Little Rock, Ar cuts $3 million from budget

[Aunt Sponge]

http://www.fox16.com/news/local/stor...w.cspx?rss=315

Good, bad, and the quirky.

Quirky:
Just why was a golf course getting $64,000 a year to function?

It's not a lot, but that makes no sense.

[SemperFiWife]

I can't believe they are taking money away from the Zoo...if anything things like that strengthen the economy keeping people going out and doing things...I hate when they take things away from educational things I'm sure there are plenty of more golf courses they could take money way...thats a leisurely thing..schools don't take trips to the golf course...they take them to the zoo.

[Aunt Sponge]

Well, the zoo is an understandable issue, actually.

A long time ago (10 years or more) the zoo was almost closed because it was just craptacular. Ultra junkie. So they boosted the zoos budget WAY up to do improvements.
The improvements are completed - revenue from the zoo itself is through the roof and it's actually a wonderful, small zoo to go to - very pretty, people go there just to relax.

And so now that they are on their own two feet and have improved their own revenue immensely it makes sense to reduce their budget - the excess is no longer necessary and thye should, now, be able to support theirselves wiht a bit less supplemental.

They do a lot of promotional things at the zoo - free armed forces day, free school day, and a halloween sleepin and so on, lots of crazy things, that attract visitors by the thousands (thousands! This year, free armed forces day brough in over 25,000 people!) ... So free or reduced intrance fees increase restaurant and recreational profit.

But it sounds aweful - hacking a chunk from the zoo - but it's understandable if you look at why the zoos budget was dramatically increased.

[SemperFiWife]

Originally Posted by Aunt Sponge Well, the zoo is an understandable issue, actually. A long time ago (10 years or more) the zoo was almost closed because it was just craptacular. Ultra junkie. So they boosted the zoos budget WAY up to do improvements. The improvements are completed - revenue from the zoo itself is through the roof and it's actually a wonderful, small zoo to go to - very pretty, people go there just to relax. And so now that they are on their own two feet and have improved their own revenue immensely it makes sense to reduce their budget - the excess is no longer necessary and thye should, now, be able to support theirselves wiht a bit less supplemental. They do a lot of promotional things at the zoo - free armed forces day, free school day, and a halloween sleepin and so on, lots of crazy things, that attract visitors by the thousands (thousands! This year, free armed forces day brough in over 25,000 people!) ... So free or reduced intrance fees increase restaurant and recreational profit. But it sounds aweful - hacking a chunk from the zoo - but it's understandable if you look at why the zoos budget was dramatically increased.

Well then that sounds better...I have been to the Memphis zoo...and I am pretty sure I've been to the zoo in Little Rock too. As long as they are able to take care of themselves then good. I can see why they would do the budget cut.

[Aunt Sponge]

It might, though, pinch their cauffers a bit - as with any type of spendature cut something's got to give when you get adjusted to it. But, I don't know ... I think they'll make it. They were talking about other improvements and even an expansion across the street - so maybe they'll put that on hold, I'm not sure.

So far, though, they have us in their pocket - we go once or twice a year and we always get suckered into the extra-spending like the train and so on.

I'll take $20.00 in quarters just to let the kids feed the fish - I mean, come on, how cool is that. haha.

I've been to countless zoos - like the Chicago zoo - and they are all spectacular so I think their improvements are spot on. They really managed ot take such a tiny place and work it over quite nicely - with a stream that runs through it, and a variety of walkways and the like (I mean TINY! You can walk through every exhibit in just about an hour - it's very small)
It being small, though, makes it ideal for a weekend - a few hours at the zoo, on with the rest of your day. If it was much bigger we wouldn't be able ot pull of a trip with all the kids in tow.

And i know for certain that a lot of people who frequent the zoo have never been to a bigger zoo - because you have to drive into Texas or Louisianna to visit the next-closest one and Arkansas just don't get out that often unless it's to Bransen, MO or even Shreveport, LA.

[SemperFiWife]

Originally Posted by Aunt Sponge It might, though, pinch their cauffers a bit - as with any type of spendature cut something's got to give when you get adjusted to it. But, I don't know ... I think they'll make it. They were talking about other improvements and even an expansion across the street - so maybe they'll put that on hold, I'm not sure. So far, though, they have us in their pocket - we go once or twice a year and we always get suckered into the extra-spending like the train and so on.

Well hopefully they find a happy medium and keep doing the good work!

I think next time we are there we will take Reese. Its kinda crappy...its two hours for us to drive to Memphis and three hours to drive to Little Rock. I hate the drive to both

Just depends if my mom has to be down there that week for work (shes was on the Arkansas Ethic Commission but recently resigned since shes running for State Rep (district 80). Shes the Secretary for the Arkansas Hospitality Association and is in Little Rock every other week almost.

[Aunt Sponge]

How cool!

Good luck to her

i dread long drives, too - it's Central Arkansas or many miles in all other directions.

[SemperFiWife]

Originally Posted by Aunt Sponge How cool! Good luck to her i dread long drives, too - it's Central Arkansas or many miles in all other directions.

yep. I hate when it comes down to which airport I want to fly into...Memphis or Little Rock...Memphis or Little Rock.

[Aunt Sponge]

LOL! I know!

We lived in Texarkana for a while and my sisters would fly into Little Rock evnethough Texark had a small, private airport - and we'd drive that whole way there and back to pick them up because it was one less lay-over and a tad bit cheaper.

[eelo]

Originally Posted by Aunt Sponge http://www.fox16.com/news/local/stor...w.cspx?rss=315 Good, bad, and the quirky. Quirky: Just why was a golf course getting $64,000 a year to function? It's not a lot, but that makes no sense.

Actually, the golf course apparently gets a lot more; they're just getting the $64K cut from their budget.

However- It takes a lot of money to run a golf course. Municipal courses like this one can be bug money-makers for the town. We have several public golf courses here in VB that are run by the Parks and Rec department of the city and they bring in a boatload of money.

This is a story from this past June. It mentions the amount of money just this one course brings in; I believe Virginia Beach has five or six public golf courses. http://hamptonroads.com/2009/06/beac...-over-contract

Under the terms of the deal, Heron's Ridge gave the city $25,000 on opening day, another $25,000 a year later and guaranteed that the city would get at least $90,000 a year in tax revenue. In exchange, the city provided the 185 acres, which it had bought for $1.6 million and spent $492,000 getting water and sewer to the property.

Heron Ridge has paid between $91,612 to $108,242 in each of the past eight years, above the guaranteed amount.

Golf is a huge moneymaker. Our school booster clubs and other charitable organizations locally often run golf tournaments and raise upwards of $5000 at a shot. Heck, the Alabama State Employees Retirement System is funded almost completely by the revenues earned from the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail (or whatever it's called).

Don't hate the golf course.