As if The Crossings Lossings At Carlsbad golf course hasn’t already cost the people of Carlsbadistan enough, KemperSports Management, the private company the city pays to run the golf course says they aren’t “hitting budget projections this year and will need and extra $150,000 to cover,” according to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times.
That’s in addition to the original subsidy of $1.79 million that the city contributed at the start of the year, the financial report states. . . Next year’s operations at The Crossings at Carlsbad course also will require a substantial city subsidy. In the golf course’s 2010 budget, which the City Council will be asked to approve Tuesday, operators are asking for a $1.76 million city subsidy. . . Mayor Bud Lewis said Wednesday he hadn’t seen the financial figures yet, but was “sorry to hear” that the course needed more money this year. He said he would probably vote to grant the budget requests.
Of course he would. No pool. No skateboard park. But sure, keep spending millions of dollars every year on a golf course that continues to lose money. Epic! This whole issue is getting so absurd that it’s almost impossible to speak politely about it.
[Link: North County Times]
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Lower the damn greens fees and more people will play. I am an avid golfer who lives in Carlsbad and I have no desire to spend that kind of money for that course. Just like everyone else I know.
Bud Lewis needs to be thrown out of office for approving this horrible waste of money.
It’s spastic our school classrooms are overcrowded, teachers are laid-off and we are using public funds to bailout a golf course. Up next: TARP money to bailout the Crossings. Our priorities are misaligned.
Absolutely ridiculous! First, Tim is right on target with his comment about green fees. In an economy like this, a luxury golf course is not the place for people to flock. Second, this is a gross misuse of city money. I’ve said many times on here and on my website that just because we have the money doesn’t mean we should go spraying it around wastefully. I think a possible change in management is needed. We need people that are going to make the right decisions with our money!
Jon Wantz
Candidate for Carlsbad City Council 2010
Jon… I too believe The Crossings was a waste and misuse of city money. I’d like to ask you what specific ways should the $72 million have been spent?
What does our community lack and how would you fight to improve it?
Bryan,
The top 3 uses:
1. The Aviara Park project currently underway. This entire project could have been fully funded with less than half of the Golf Course money.
2. City Upkeep and Beautification Projects – Carlsbad badly needs sidewalk renovations all over town. A main area is along Garfield where sidewalks are missing on non-existant. Funding for benches, artistic decoration, and plant life all come at minimal expense, and can make our beautiful downtown area even better.
3. A small business grant fund to help support and bring in new small businesses to the Carlsbad area. Our region has a reputation of being a high-cost, low reward area during the economic downturn and small businesses are being wooed away by cities like Las Vegas who are advertising on our billboards what the incentives are to moving your business there.
With just the money being soaked up by the continual subsizing requests, we could fund many community projects.