By Gary J. Groman. a.k.a. The Ole Seagull
Is it possible Branson, a city with its “financial caution light” on, will make a decision to potentially save $700,000 in the near term that will net an immediate $300,000 loss and cost millions more in the future? In the strange but true world of Branson finance and development anything is possible.
From a perspective point of view, the Ole Seagull would point out he is a fan of Branson Landing, wants to see the Branson Convention Center succeed, and is ambivalent toward the Branson Regional Airport. At the end of the day however, none of that changes the reality of what he believes the situation to be.
While developers seem to get millions of city tax dollars for their projects it appears there are very few crumbs left for improvements helping the average resident and business or to simply make things easier for our guests. The answers to the following questions illustrate the point.
Are the taxpayers of Branson paying over $400 thousand each year toward the maintenance of the fountain and certain “common areas in Branson Landing?” How much did the city pay for the building of the fountain at Branson Landing?
Did the city of Branson actually spend over $600 thousand to build, what may be a one of a kind private laundry in its convention center? What was the total cost to build it? How many tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars are the taxpayers of Branson paying each year operating that laundry to provide, among other things, subsidized and bargain basement laundry prices for two private hotels?
How much per passenger has the city of Branson pledged to pay for certain passengers disembarking from the “Branson Regional Airport?” What exactly is the criterion that triggers the payment?
There is something in common with each of the above mentioned expenses. In fact there is more than one thing in common. Each inures to the benefit of a private developer, involves the expense of taxpayer funds and is used to directly support the operation of a private development.
In addition, are the residents and businesses of Branson paying over $1 million plus per year to subsidize the operating losses at the convention center? Is that expense expected to run into perpetuity?
There are some who would say, “But the peripheral benefits to the city are huge.” To that may an Ole Seagull suggest, “If it was that simple we wouldn’t be in the financial pickle we’re in.” All this is done allegedly to bring more tourists to town and yet, what does the city do when it has the opportunity to complete a major north south road to make it easier for tourist and local alike to travel within Branson?
Amazingly, indicate there’s not enough money to do it. The Fall Creek Road extension to State Highway 248 has been in the planning stages and under actual construction for years. It’s already had millions of dollars in city and state funding invested in it, will provide a crown jewel in Branson’s road system, a major north south route on the eastern edge of the strip and, in all likely-hood will cost millions more to complete at some future date. The actual bid on the final phase of the project was $4.5 million, $2.5 million less than the highest estimate and $1 million less than the city’s best estimate.
An Ole Seagull finds it interesting that while indicating it doesn’t have the difference between the $3.8 million budgeted for the project and $4.5 million bid, about $700,000, the city found $1 million plus dollars, to improve the intersection of the new realigned Forsythe and Roark Valley Roads which, in the opinion of an Ole Seagull, inures to the primary benefit of yet another developer.
At the time of that decision, the Fall Creek Road extension project had been in the planning and construction stages for how long? The comparative study on which road would provide the most benefit to the community, Branson’s guests, and do the most to relieve traffic congestion was conducted when and indicated what?
Is it possible the city is being “Penny wise and dollar foolish?” Might not a reasonable person wonder “Of all the projects being considered for cutbacks, how many are going to, in a very real sense, immediately pay the city back about 30 percent for each additional dollar spent over the budgeted amount and, has the potential to save a lot more than that? An Ole Seagull would suggest not many.
