Your Opinion: Parks' operations could break even

Dear Editor:

Hear ye! Hear ye! Parks and Recreation Department squanders tax money. From 2008 through 2012 the Oak Hills Golf Course operation lost more than $1.3 million dollars and the Ice Arena operation lost in excess of $917,000. The mayor's budget proposal for this coming year has a projected loss for the golf course of more than $429,000 and a mere $117,000 loss for the Ice Center operation.

With attention to detail, especially on the expense side, these operations could become break even if not profitable operations. Some innovative programming, tweaking of fees and charges, hours of operations and facility enhancement are needed. The Parks Commission, the Parks and Recreation director and the operational managers need to do in-depth analysis and stem the hemorrhaging. These operations could become break even if not profitable.

Private businesses operate such facilities at a profit. Apparently management, and that includes those in the chain of command from the mayor, city administrator, the head of Parks and Recreation, down to the operational managers have been unable or unwilling to so.

The head of Parks and Recreation down to the operational managers should be put on notice and held accountable. In the business world people are fired for such poor business performance.

I highly recommend the director of Parks and Recreation take the initiative and post monthly financial statements at both the ice arena and golf course.