From Deseret News archives:
Public vs. private tiff may go to new panel
In its final meeting Monday, the state's Tourism Task Force voted to support the creation of a group to study issues surrounding the private use of public facilities "for other reasons than what they were originally intended."
At issue are weddings, receptions, meetings and other activities at public buildings and grounds such as convention centers, recreation centers, golf courses and libraries that are funded by tax dollars but instead suck business away from private-sector establishments.
"I'm really bothered by the fact that I am paying taxes so that a golf course can be maintained," said Rep. Peggy Wallace, R-West Jordan. "I know that they have a really great 'green-belt factor' and that they're really good for the environment and everything else, but there's a lot of golfers out there in Utah, and I think they're the ones who can maintain it and keep it rolling."
"Statistically, 13 to 15 percent of the population use health clubs or recreation centers, so what we're doing is taxing people 100 percent of the population is paying for that use by the 13 to 15 percent," Nielsen said. "The problem is we have to buy business licenses, we pay the taxes into the entity, (then) they turn around and use those taxes to compete directly against us. It's just not fair.
"None of this, we believe, is the core business of the government. . . . Health clubs are not a core essential business of government."
Ernie Schneiter, owner of Schneiter's Riverside Golf Course, said there are 40 public courses owned by the city or county in Salt Lake County alone.
"I just think that private will do a better job more efficiently and save a lot of money. . . . They shouldn't be in the business, that's all," Schneiter said.
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