Golfers Say Fee Hikes Not Fair Way To Raise Money

Hordes of angry golfers are expected to descend upon the Spokane County Commission on Tuesday to try to sink a proposed greens fee increase at the county’s three courses.

Commissioner John Roskelley wants to raise 18-hole prices for county residents from $13.50 to $16.

The county’s citizen golf advisory committee recommends a $1 hike.

Roskelley, who joined the board in November, wants golfers to help out the county’s ailing parks system by repaying a debt.

Since 1988, the county has spent $1.8 million in non-golf money to improve the 18-hole layouts at Hangman Valley, MeadowWood and Liberty Lake.

That money could have been used to patch decrepit county pools, replace swing sets and maintain Pavilion Park at Liberty Lake, said Fran Boxer, county assistant chief administrative officer and parks chief.

“The golf courses are not self-sustaining,” Boxer said. Raising fees is “only good business.”

She supports Roskelley’s plan to levy a $2.50 increase on county residents and use a dollar of that to improve parks.

Another dollar would go back into golf course upkeep, while 50 cents would be used to link the courses with a computerized cash register - expected to pay for itself the first year and lead to better record-keeping and customer service.

County golf manager Mike Kingsley has been flooded with up to 100 calls from protesters who claim they will be double-taxed.

Golfers who own property already pay taxes that support parks and don’t want to be singled out, Kingsley said.

If fees are raised too much, he fears golfers will flee county courses for the city’s.

Fees at Spokane’s Esmeralda and Downriver courses are $14, while going 18 holes at Indian Canyon and The Creek at Qualchan costs $16.

“We want to keep it affordable for the blue-collar guy and give him a quality product at a reasonable rate,” Kingsley said.

Some of those blue-collar types have spewed the most venom at Roskelley’s proposal because of his statement that golf is for the wealthy.

“It sure has been beat to death,” Roskelley said of the reference.

“What I meant was that golfers are wealthy compared to the families that can’t afford to take their children to the Hillyard pool.”

Boxer said the city of Spokane sets aside at least 8 percent - 12 percent in 1994 - of its budget for parks, while the county’s parks appropriation is 1.3 percent.

Meanwhile, the golf courses raided the county’s real estate excise tax for $1.5 million in recent years, she said. Another $300,000 was shifted from the general fund and revenues from a tax on rental cars.

Together, the funds bought improvements ranging from new tee markers to a $122,000 waterfall at Hangman Valley and three $10,000 boulders engraved with the county’s course names. The boulders were placed at each course’s entrance.

“The golf courses have been pampered and protected under the previous administration,” Boxer said, referring to longtime parks director Sam Angove, who was forced out last year.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo Graphic: Proposed greens fees increase

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: MEETING TUESDAY The commission meeting begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the lower level of the Public Works Building on Broadway. Because of the huge crowd expected, speakers will be limited to three minutes each.