Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Cherry Hill Golf Course: Wasted Resource

Cherry Hill absorbs a lot of sun, and tax dollars

For perhaps the first time in its entire history of municipal operation (1987) the Cherry Hill Golf Course came in under budget for expenditures consuming "only" $240,866 of its $242,949 operation budget.

Of course, also as usual, the Golf Course missed revenues by a fairway generating only $211,680 on a budget built on a $268,000 intake. So the simple math indicates Cherry Hill lost "only" $29,186.


 Click to enlarge/read
 Not shown:  $5,046 in insurance

But, as usual, that's only half the sad story. In addition to the $240,866 operation budget the White Elephant Golf business also required $39,721 in Employee Benefits, $12,500 in Capital Appropriations (lawnmower) and $5,046 in Insurance.

Or a grand total spent on golf in FY15 of $298,133 against a pitiful intake of $211,680 -- or a loss of $86,453.   Coming on the heels of a $103,964 loss last year (which could have been better spent hiring two Public Safety professionals).

 War Memorial Park former wading pool (middle/right) is now UFO landing zone

Meanwhile the wading pool at War Memorial Park was ripped out by the DPW last winter and the play equipment is as old as the Town Manager.

 60+ year old Groff Park Wading Pool needs (too much) expensive repair

And the wading pool at Groff Park is on its last legs, losing half the volume of water and requiring a 5 gallon bucket of chlorine every other day due to extensive leakage.

Last year the Town Manager sent a memo to the Select Board saying it was perhaps time to once again look at leasing out Cherry Hill to a private vendor.

At least that way it would generate tax money rather than consume it.  Amherst Golf Course, owned by Amherst College, paid the town $19,158 in property taxes for their successful golf business last year.

 Hadley Solar Array in the middle of a corn field

Better yet, since the town prides itself on being a "Green Community" the expansive swath of God's green earth should be put out to bid for a Solar Array.

Town Hall parking lot with 2 spaces reserved for electric vehicles (still awaiting final installation)

28 comments:

Rebecca said...

That wading pool at War Memorial lasted less than a summer. I remember my daughter was doing day camp at Amherst Leisure Services and the wading pool was always closed. Very disappointing.

Larry Kelley said...

They have been talking about a spray park since 2007, which would be super cheap to operate (no lifeguards required) and a heck of a lot of fun.

And even without state grants, just with the money lost on the Golf Course in the past two years we could have paid for that brand new spray park.

Anonymous said...

But, but the cost of a spray park could pay for public safety officers! Quit comparing apples and oranges when it comes to Cherry Hill. I can show you all kinds of parts of Amherst's budget that could pay for police. BTW, let's not be selective. Give me the dollars received vs. the dollars expended for Mill River, Groff Park, and Memorial pool. I bet all of them run at a net loss, or at a net gain when you factor in the recreation value for our citizens.

Larry Kelley said...

A dollar is a dollar is a dollar.

If the cost of the spray park comes out of a state PARC grant or CPA money then NO, it is not money that could be used to hire pubic safety officers.

But then again, a dollar is a dollar is a dollar. Even state dollars.

Anonymous said...

I believe that should be "public" safety officers, Larry.

In my view, the golf course or other recreational facility "losses" are red herrings. Yes, they consume tax dollars, but they do provide a service to residents. But the amounts are minimal in comparison to personnel costs and settlements which Larry has done a great job highlighting. Gardner's settlement alone could cover Cherry Hill's deficit for 6 YEARS.

Anonymous said...

I don't see it as wasted dollars. I just played at Cherry Hill this morning. I can't pay for an expensive club membership at one of the private courses, and neither can my golfing buddies.

Larry Kelley said...

Yeah I definitely have something Freudian going on with that word.

But NO, Gardner's $180K settlement -- which is Regional School money, NOT town money -- would not even cover Cherry Hill losses over the past two years.

Larry Kelley said...

Anon 10:50 AM

Some people can't afford to live in Beverly Hills either, so they don't.

Anonymous said...

Maybe if we turned it into a drone park you would be happy.

Larry Kelley said...

Actually that cool shot was taken from WAY across the street.

Anonymous said...

So much to moan about. So little time.

(Very) CAN said...

We get it, Larry - you hate golf, a peaceful game between friends.

Some of us feel the same way about martial "arts" (beating up your friends for fun).

I don't hear you arguing against LSSE karate classes.

Yep, this is your blog and I as a CAN freely admit your right to your opinion. But there's no "news" here and this dead horse has already been thoroughly beaten.

Larry Kelley said...

I can tell you're new around these parts.

The first (volatile) speech I ever gave on the floor of Amherst Town Meeting over 30 years ago was in favor of an article I filed to stop LSSE from competing with my karate school, Hampshire Gymnastic and Amherst Ballet Center.

The DPW can repave driveways, but should not be in the business of competing with private companies who provide that service.

Anonymous said...

New enough not to know all of the Larry Kelley grievances, but here long enough to know what CAN stands for. Wow.

Larry Kelley said...

Actually only three: Spending $2.2 million for a Golf Course we could have had for free; the Public High School cancelling "West Side Story" but allowing "Vagina Monologues"; and not flying the commemorative flags on 9/11 four-out-of-five anniversaries.

Anonymous said...

Cherry Hill is far from a wasted resource. Spend some time there in the winter and watch the families sledding and skiing yet alone the pleasure residents have from golfing there without paying a fortune. Is the library a wasted resource? Would you privatize everything?

Larry Kelley said...

If you are going to subsidize a recreational activity you get far more bang for your buck investing in programs like our sorry looking Groff Park or War Memorial Park than you do an expensive golf course. About the only thing more expensive is downhill skiing. Should Holyoke have purchased Mt. Tom to keep it going at taxpayer expense?

Transportation is also worth subsidizing. So should taxpayers spend $200K buying a tandem PVTA bus that seats a ton of people, or two high-end BMWs that seats a total of 4?

Anonymous said...

According to your own figures the town paid only $86,000 for a full year of having a recreational facility. That's not only a bargain, but probably better than any other town owned golf course in the country.

Larry Kelley said...

No, some golf courses actually make money. The Amherst Golf Course, also a nine hole facility in the same weather zone as Cherry Hill, makes money and their owners (tax exempt Amherst College) paid the town $19,158 in property taxes last year.

Anonymous said...

Larry said:

Transportation is also worth subsidizing. So should taxpayers spend $200K buying a tandem PVTA bus that seats a ton of people, or two high-end BMWs that seats a total of 4?

Your Friend said:

Hear, hear!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the photo. You definitely showed what a beautiful course it is. They are doing a marvelous job with upkeep.

Anonymous said...

My kids, who are now in their 30s, spent many happy hours at the War Memorial wading pool. When they were very very little we used to go every day! It's sad it could not be repaired and kept up over the years.

Larry Kelley said...

Yes Anon 6:20 AM I only wish I focused a little more on the Walmart quality Clubhouse which is described in the new Town Building Inventory as "not high quality," and at the Select Board meeting presentation as "disposable."

Anonymous said...

Ummmm. is Mt. Tom in Amherst? No. No, it's not.

Larry Kelley said...

Lucky thing for hard pressed Amherst taxpayers.

Anonymous said...

Some towns/cities own and operate ski areas (like Mt Tom). Some don't.
Some towns/cities own and operate beaches. Some don't.
Some towns/cities own and operate golf courses. Some don't.
Some towns/cities own and operate hiking trails. Some don't.

All is good.

Larry Kelley said...

And soon enough Amherst will joint the ranks of those who don't (operate a golf course).

Anonymous said...

But they'll still own it.