Wednesday, March 17, 2004

Ketchum’s madcap spending and penny-pinching plan

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The Ketchum City Council is flying in the fog without a flight plan.

On Monday night, the council unanimously took steps to totally replace the Guy Coles Skate Park at an estimated cost of $253,000. After private donations, the city’s share would be $224,000 plus interest.

The council’s consideration is hasty at best.

The city didn’t budget a dime for capital improvements this year and has no money in its budget for a skate park.

No matter.

The council wants to get around the problem by seeking a loan on which the first payment would not be due until after the 2005 budget goes into effect next fall. Of course, the skate park would be finished beforehand.

The move ignored the fact that a budget for 2005 hasn’t been drafted, debated nor noticed to the public and is far outside the legal budget process, so far outside that it risks violating the Idaho Constitution.

The council is blind in its haste.

It knows that the YMCA wants $3 million from the city to build a facility for everyone from skaters to swimmers. The city also knows it faces decades of neglect of sidewalks, lighting, and parking.

The city already has a skate park. Proponents argue that a new one will attract more visitors, who will contribute to the local economy. But the real issue looks to be envy: Hailey’s newer state-of-the-art skate park has eclipsed Ketchum’s. Hailey has better downtown sidewalks too, but the city has been in no rush to compete in that arena.

It would be one thing if the city council were really concerned about local kids and their families, but it’s not. With the vocal exception of Council Member Terry Tracy, the council also is considering increased fees for summer park programs.

A 10% increase, on top of last year’s 5% increase, would generate a grand total of $4,000—peanuts relative to the city’s $14 million budget.

The council heard arguments that the fees should be increased because they are below average and unfairly subsidize families from Sun Valley, which has no parks, and Hailey and Bellevue families with parents who work in Ketchum.

These would be compelling arguments except for one thing. Ketchum subsidizes precious little of the growth impacts it has exported to the south valley.

Ketchum should call a halt to pinching pennies from working families and end its ill-advised back-pocket spending on a new skate park. If the council can’t get its flight plan in order, the mayor should dust off his big red veto stamp and use it.

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