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Cruise ship issues need long-term solutions
Sometimes you have to raid the savings
account when unexpected expenses crop up. But why end up in the position
of raiding rainy day funds when the storm was forecast six months out?
The city is doing just that.
The Navy's dredging project will cause the
Outer Mole Pier berth to be closed for about six months. That closure is
slated to begin in May, and city Port Director Raymond Archer has
already notified commissioners that ships will bypass the city for a
total of 16 budgeted stops, and 23 port calls will move to privately
owned Pier B, cutting the city's take to a quarter of what it would have
been for those ships.
It means raiding the reserve funds to
cover more than $500,000 in lost revenues.
Granted, the actual time frame for the
Outer Mole closing came in after the city's budget for 2004-05 was drawn
up and passed. The Navy had warned the city in time for budget planning
that the pier might close for six months this year.
Usually city financial prognosticators are
very conservative with public money. And budget forecasts were drawn up
with lowered expectations for Outer Mole berths, compared to scheduled
ships, because the city wanted to be prepared for the possible closure.
City leaders decided during budget
discussions last year to raid the reserves if the closure happened,
rather than raise taxes, cut other services or layoff city workers.
It makes us and many city residents
question the reliance on cruise ships.
It's time to ask some hard questions. We
have advocated for new thinking about cruise ships, such as finding a
way to raise rates and allow fewer ships to stay for longer hours. That
won't really be an option during the six months of closure, but maybe
for next year's budget. |
