Open Letter to the Oshkosh Common Council
As a taxpayer I would encourage you to vote in favor of a $1 surcharge on the amphitheater tickets.
First, the Leaches fully support it and have asked for it. Second, the burden of upkeep and perpetual maintenance should be placed on those who use the facility, making this surcharge completely appropriate. Third, the arguments being made by Waterfest and PMI that the extra buck will potentially hurt ticket sales is ridiculous. Anyone can afford an extra dollar when they're buying a ticket, especially since it's only a periodic purchase. If PMI can't properly market this facility because of a $1 surcharge then perhaps they are not as great at their job as they professed to be and their contract should either be renegotiated or voided altogether and given to the Supples.
Please consider also that the city council did not have a concern about little kids and families paying more for the zoo; they did not have a problem making people pay to drop off their waste at the city garage; they did not have a problem making people pay to have certain trash items picked up from their curbs; they did not have a problem instituting a boat launch fee; nor should they have a problem adding a $1 surcharge onto the price of each ticket.
Moreover, if this is not passed, the upkeep will fall on the taxpayers and with so many budgetary uncertainties in our future - both for the city and her taxpayers - we cannot rely on that method, especially as the only method of maintenance and upkeep. Besides we wouldn't want to have happen to this gift what happened to the gift of Pollock Pool. That would be a slap in the face of the donor and taxpayers alike who are paying for it.
I also believe this ticket surcharge should be passed now for the start of this year's events rather than waiting. Everyone has been predicting a wonderful first season, so why not capitalize on it while we can? Besides the maintenance and upkeep are going to start immediately; so should the surcharge. It's easier to put it in place now than to try adding it on after the fact. There will be less opposition from users if it's done right now. There is no sense in waiting. The bids were waived for constructing bathrooms and the concession area because we were told time was of the essence. Such is the case with this situation, too.
Finally, I would remind council members that a $1 surcharge on a ticket that is, at least in most cases, an incidental purchase, is less than one soda will cost at the amphitheater. And it is certainly much less than a Butter Burger basket (which, by way of reminder, each property owner is paying about two Butter Burger baskets per year for the amphitheater project itself). I hope this puts things in a little more perspective. Let’s hope the council does the right thing on this issue.
- Cheryl
First, the Leaches fully support it and have asked for it. Second, the burden of upkeep and perpetual maintenance should be placed on those who use the facility, making this surcharge completely appropriate. Third, the arguments being made by Waterfest and PMI that the extra buck will potentially hurt ticket sales is ridiculous. Anyone can afford an extra dollar when they're buying a ticket, especially since it's only a periodic purchase. If PMI can't properly market this facility because of a $1 surcharge then perhaps they are not as great at their job as they professed to be and their contract should either be renegotiated or voided altogether and given to the Supples.
Please consider also that the city council did not have a concern about little kids and families paying more for the zoo; they did not have a problem making people pay to drop off their waste at the city garage; they did not have a problem making people pay to have certain trash items picked up from their curbs; they did not have a problem instituting a boat launch fee; nor should they have a problem adding a $1 surcharge onto the price of each ticket.
Moreover, if this is not passed, the upkeep will fall on the taxpayers and with so many budgetary uncertainties in our future - both for the city and her taxpayers - we cannot rely on that method, especially as the only method of maintenance and upkeep. Besides we wouldn't want to have happen to this gift what happened to the gift of Pollock Pool. That would be a slap in the face of the donor and taxpayers alike who are paying for it.
I also believe this ticket surcharge should be passed now for the start of this year's events rather than waiting. Everyone has been predicting a wonderful first season, so why not capitalize on it while we can? Besides the maintenance and upkeep are going to start immediately; so should the surcharge. It's easier to put it in place now than to try adding it on after the fact. There will be less opposition from users if it's done right now. There is no sense in waiting. The bids were waived for constructing bathrooms and the concession area because we were told time was of the essence. Such is the case with this situation, too.
Finally, I would remind council members that a $1 surcharge on a ticket that is, at least in most cases, an incidental purchase, is less than one soda will cost at the amphitheater. And it is certainly much less than a Butter Burger basket (which, by way of reminder, each property owner is paying about two Butter Burger baskets per year for the amphitheater project itself). I hope this puts things in a little more perspective. Let’s hope the council does the right thing on this issue.
- Cheryl
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 12:14 PM
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