Let’s have a REAL discussion about Enterprise Funds
l3wis 
“I’m giving it all I got Captain, but I’m afraid the EC won’t be profitable this year.”
Here’s an idea I would like to pitch to DaCola readers; let’s expand the use of enterprise funds.
You are probably asking what the hell I am talking about?
Let’s look at the city’s argument behind using enterprise funds for water and sewer, they feel the ‘users’ should pay for these infrastructure upgrades instead of coming from the 2nd penny (what they are not telling you is that they want to also use the funds to build NEW infrastructure, like Foundation Park, that has little to do with normal maintenance, operations and upgrades.)
It’s not a bad concept, so why not apply it to other entities in Sioux Falls government? Why not pay to play at these facilities also;
• City Golf Courses
• Swimming Pools (especially the indoor pool)
• The Arena, Orpheum, Washington Pavilion and especially the Events Center.
Why not take the fees from users and put that money into a fund that helps pay for maintenance and even debt service? Not only does it make sense, the tax payers would truly see just how valuable our quality of life projects are to us.
In fact, I don’t think the city golf courses have ever lost money, maybe tie all the Parks Department entities that charge fees together (Golf, Swim and Great Bear).
Then at the end of each year, each of the funds could ‘borrow’ or be subsidized by the 2nd penny if they come up short. This would show us a true ‘balance sheet’ and go along with that whole ‘transparency in government’ thingy.
What do you think?
