The city is considering four tracks, one of which is, obviously, to sell iProvo. Billings maintained he always has been open to privatization but that, although the city has had offers, none convinced him they would work in the long term.

Provo has been burned when it has privatized other city services, such as the golf course.

Council members have defended votes to subsidize iProvo by saying the money has come from unexpected sales-tax surpluses collected in the recent economic boom times. Now the boom is receding, and $4.88 million would have gone a long way to building a new recreation center or toward other needs in the city.

The City Council clearly is weary of the subsidies, but even its biggest iProvo critics appeared mollified after the private meetings, a sign that a solution is near.

"The consultant reports will allow us to say, 'We're here,"' Billings said. "Now do we want to go down this offramp or that offramp, or stay where we are and wait for other options to appear?"

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Tad Walch lives with his wife and five children in Provo, their home for the past 21 years. Please e-mail twalch@desnews.com.