Vito Rasenas
updated
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 10:04 AM
Dear Editor,
At the February 28th Killington Selectboard meeting the 2012 Green
Mountain National Golf Course (GMNGC) rates and policies were
presented. There was an increase in season pass prices and a
tightening of collection procedures for "stay and play" partners,
which is great. However two things came up taxpayers should be
concerned with.
First, why do we have an "under 30" discount rate for seasons
passes. This is so ludicrous at first I thought it was a height
requirement. It is a severely discounted rate, $299 vs. $699;
that's more than a 50% discount on an already low rate for the
comparable "midweek" pass. I can understand a college pass
but under 30? What's the logic behind that? Have some GMNGC members
influenced this policy to get a discount for their offspring? If
people in their twenties have enough time to play golf they have
time to earn enough for a full rate pass!
Secondly, GMNGC has filed an application for a catering permit for
events at the neighboring Trailside Lodge. a great idea for revenue
enhancement! It might even offset the losses on the "under 30"
pass. However there seems to be some consternation on the
Selectboard's part that allowing GMNGC to cater would create
competition with private businesses and would violate the non
compete principle under which GMNGC was established. Consider
though, another founding principle was the taxpayers would never
ever have to pay a cent for GMNGC!
All options for revenue enhancement should be considered now that
the taxpayers are paying for GMNGC. The more revenue, the less the
taxpayers burden. This disingenuous argument about it competing
with other business when it is, in fact, bringing business into
town is a crock. Not only was the GMNGC concept sold to the
taxpayers as an "Economic Recovery" vehicle for local businesses
but those same businesses now receive additional largess in the
form of EDT spending.
For years revenue enhancement ideas have been debated. Here we have
a decent proposal. The partner has brought fresh capital into town
in revitalizing the Trailside Inn. Issuing this permit would limit
taxpayer exposure to the GMNGC debt and support private investment
in the community.
~Vito Rasenas, Killington
Tagged:
Letter to Editor, Letter to the Editor
