Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon wants to erase a $2 million deficit in the county's golf fund by 2008 — a proposal that has prompted county officials to re-examine the basic function of county government.

"We are in the business of providing recreational opportunities," Councilman Randy Horiuchi said in defending the county's historic subsidy of the courses.

On the other side, "One might argue whether we should be subsidizing (the golf courses) at all," said Councilman Mark Crockett, a member of a new 25-person task force charged with eliminating the deficit. "What is the county's nature and role?"

The county's golf fund, which is financed with greens fees and related revenue, has historically been given a boost by the taxpayer-funded general fund. Counties generally keep their golf fees low in order to, as Corroon puts it, "make them available for people who can't afford to join a country club."

Thus, while council members generally applaud Corroon's new push for fiscal self-sufficiency, they are cautioning that a total bottom-line mentality might not be consistent with the county's mission.

"What is fundamentally wrong with subsidizing golf courses?" Councilman Jim Bradley asked. "The first thing is whether we're providing the proper services."

But Corroon and Community Services Division director Chris Crowley believe the deficit can be erased without impacting the county's mission. Among other things, they say the task force should be able to improve operations, fiscal management, marketing and community awareness and create synergies with other county services such as the Fine Arts Division and Clark Planetarium.

"There's no reason we can't share those cross-pollination opportunities," Crowley said.

For example, an astronomy buff could be enticed to visit a golf course through appropriate golf advertising at the planetarium.

"We'll leave it to the policymakers (whether to subsidize)," Corroon said. "We're just trying to find efficiencies."

Much of the deficit is due to the county's controversial $16 million purchase of South Mountain Golf Course in Draper, whose performance has generally fallen below expectations. Crowley said it's possible South Mountain is an "albatross."

In addition to increasing efficiencies and cross-marketing opportunities, the task force (which will include prominent county residents, council members, mayor's staff, golfers and others) will explore whether to sell one or more golf courses, redo some courses, determine whether development is possible near some courses and other options.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," Crowley said.

Nevertheless, Horiuchi warned, in the midst of all this bottom-line thinking, don't forget how beneficial the courses are.

"Were it not for the golf courses, I clearly would have been a juvenile delinquent," he said jokingly, "and later in prison."

---

E-mail: aedwards@desnews.com