Re: Pool Finances

["Mike Curley" <curley@turbonet.com>]

Ken and other Visionaries:
Just a side note to what has been to me an interesting discussion 
about the pool and public works generally:  before we cast any new 
aspersions at any of our city officials or pool managers, we should 
keep in mind the time it takes to have a full and complete picture of 
the finances of any operation, commercial or public.  The pool just 
closed a week or two ago.  Bills will no doubt continue to trickle 
in and be paid, and some operational costs may be fragmented 
throughout the fiscal year.  I am not making excuses for anyone (and 
particularly DON'T know whom that anyone may be), but simply saying 
that to get an ACCURATE picture of the finances of any operation 
takes both time and an understanding of the accounting principles and 
conventions that are used in making the report.  

I expect in time our city council will ask the same questions that 
are being asked here and that a business manager, accountant, or 
manager will supply not only the data, but an opinion on the net 
revenue/cost of the pool.  In fact, to those council members who do 
subscribe to 2020 or otherwise hear about the posts, I ask that you 
follow up at an appropriate time and that you have the basic 
information posted here or at least identify a site where the 
information can be obtained.

Thanks,

Mike Curley


Date:          Mon, 18 Sep 2000 20:53:22 -0700
To:            krehbiel@moscow.com
From:          "William K. Medlin" <dev-plan@moscow.com>
Subject:       Re: Pool Finances
Cc:            Moscow <vision2020@moscow.com>

Folks: I thoroughly subscribe to Doug's reasoning here and on 
insistence on disclosure. Political officeholders throughout our 
society have acquired a predilection for keeping public data, 
budgets, expenditures, evaluations (when rarely required), etc. away 
from public scrutiny. The McCain-Feinstein appeals over the past 2-3 
years for campaign reform are only symptomatic of a widespread 
practice by politicians and those whom they control in govts.of not 
being accountable to anyone except at the ballot box. That's not good 
enough for a democracy or a free market economy. For better and for 
worse, the growth of govt. regulation at all levels places increased 
fiscal and investment options within control of politicians. As for 
the pool itself, it's a great 'invention' for this community, even 
tho on most hot summer days it was like cans of sardines back to back 
and little SWIMMING room other than getting wet. With the Joseph St 
land now being developed, hindsight says we could have, with long 
range planning and community participation, developed an all-purpose 
sports and recreation site there, with a covered pool. It would have 
been well worth the extra few $ million to make that a comprehensive 
project to serve MORE people and bring in more receipts. Just 
thinking out loud. Thanks, Doug. Ken M.

>My original comment was really an attempt at gaining information.  I
>think we need to evaluate the finances of all of our public facilities
>in order to operate them in a responsible manner.  We, as tax paying
>citizen, have the opportunity to comment on all government budgeting and
>spending.  I would like to know that an Air Force toilet ($1200) doesn't
>go into city hall.  The debate about the cost/benefits of the pool is
>somewhat hampered when we don't know the costs.
>
>>From my perspective, if the pool "lost" a lot of money, we should hold
>the managers to the task of being more responsible with our money.  If
>the pool "made" money, a review of entrance fees is in order and we
>should hold the managers to the task of being responsible with our other
>money.