Representatives of the Powerhouse Science Center went before the Durango City Council on Tuesday to ask for money. It is an understandable request, but needing money is not in itself a compelling argument for receiving taxpayer funds. A lot of folks already want money from the city.
If the Powerhouse backers expect public funding, they will have to come up with a solid case for why – and an even better explanation as to how that money will be spent.
For one thing, the city has its own issues. It has to do something about the sewer plant. Exactly what is under discussion, but some kind of fix has to happen. And regardless of what form that takes, it will not be cheap.
There is also the proposed new airport terminal, expected to cost upward of $100 million. Regardless of how much the federal government kicks in, local taxpayers would still be asked to pay for much of that.
And, of course, there is the ongoing expense of maintaining the myriad day-to-day functions of city government.
Compared to whatever plans the city might come up with for the sewer plant or the airport, the $125,000 the Powerhouse wants is a pittance – except for the fact that it would be $125,000 every year. And has any such group ever reduced the support it seeks? Or is it more likely that $125,000 would, over time, turn into $250,000?
There is too much confusion surrounding the Powerhouse, its funding and its future. In a letter to the editor (Herald, June 24), Powerhouse board president Kathleen O’Connor was forthright about some of the organization’s problems.
“We knew our business model was not working,” she wrote, “but we did not have a comprehensive picture of why it was not working until recently.” She went on to add that a review showed “a monetary loss in most of our endeavors.”
Pouring taxpayer money into a situation like that would, at best, be a patch. What is needed is a fix.
What the Powerhouse first needs is to show exactly how all this would work going forward. That should include a demonstrably workable business plan, strong private-sector support – from both nonprofits and businesses – and something that shows there is a sustainable market for what the Powerhouse offers.
Those things should probably be done regardless of whether the Powerhouse seeks public funds. They should absolutely happen before any such request is considered.
At some point, public funding for the Powerhouse may make sense. It should not be the first choice, however, and it cannot be supported on an appealing vision alone.
