Minneapolis park budget would raise golf fees

Minneapolis parks Superintendent Jayne Miller has proposed a 2016 budget that seeks 4.4 percent more in property taxes, raises the cost of golf at six courses and plants fewer young trees to prune more of those already planted.

The cost of a round of golf would rise the most at Gross, up $1 to $4 per round. Park officials call it a premier course. The proposed fee increase ranges from $1 to $3 per round at Columbia, $1-2 at Wirth's 18-hole course and $1 at its nine-hole course, $1 to $2 at the nine holes at Hiawatha, and $1 at Fort Snelling.

Golfers would not see increases for all rounds; the bigger jumps would be paid by those who play after 4 p.m. The highest rate would be $35 for 18 weekend holes at Gross, up $3.

The proposed fees represent the first time the park system has gone to a pricing strategy that charges customers more at prime courses, which Miller said are underpriced compared with competing courses. The move to increase fees comes as Meadowbrook and Hiawatha courses still haven't been renovated after extensive storm damage from heavy rains and flooding in 2014, which is projected to result in a $717,000 loss in golf revenue this year. The higher fees and play on the usable half of the course for a full season at Hiawatha are projected to trim the loss to $611,000 next year. Park officials could typically count on $500,000 in revenue before the damage.

Meanwhile, Miller proposed to trim tree planting in 2016 by 850 trees, or nearly 10 percent. She said that's needed because the rate of planting is causing injuries for park workers and because forestry crews are falling two years behind an optimal pruning cycle for both mature and newly planted trees.

Miller said that removal and replacement of ash trees that's funded by a special levy responding to the emerald ash borer will continue unabated as will replacing trees damaged by storms. But more routine replacement of dying trees will lag.

She said her goal is to get to an optimal pruning cycle but that will depend on future finances.

The $54.3 million in recommended property taxes helps to finance a general fund 2016 budget of nearly $71 million, or a 4 percent increase. With all funds, park officials are looking to spend $84.2 million. The budget adds eight jobs to this year's budget, or a net increase of 38 people since Miller's first budget in 2012. That was the year the Park Board workforce bottomed out after a reduction of 117 full-time jobs, or 20 percent of workers. Miller said those workers are still needed despite operating efficiencies she implemented.

Miller proposed spending an additional $700,000 over two years to take advantage of increasing opportunities to buy land along the upper riverfront.