Like most cities in California, Santa Cruz is struggling to cover its deficit, the result of rising costs and lower revenues. Though every department is taking a hit, one department, more than any other, is learning what it is like to survive through a recession. The Parks and Recreation Department has seen its budget cut by 60 percent and its staff cut by 50 percent since 2002.
One of the biggest drains on the city is the DeLaveaga Golf Course, which was originally intended to be self-sufficient. It has lost over half a million dollars a year for the past three years, and the city is now considering handing it over to private operators. The question is whether they can make it profitable. Raising the cost of a game of golf would make Dela less competitive than other local ranges.
Also on the chopping block is the Civic Auditorium downtown, which continues to be subsidized by the city. While city officials bundle it with the golf course, and suggest it could be one or the other, some people are worried about the impact pouring money into either could have on next year’s budget. They warn that next year’s deficit could hit $4 million, and that both will be cut in the end anyways. Perhaps it is better to do that now.
Read More at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
