Editor’s Note
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Archive for April 23rd, 2009

$400,000 city subsidy to OTW: Get real

5 comments April 23rd, 2009

Tucked at the bottom of Isaac Guerrero’s story in the Register Star this morning was this juicy nugget:

“Though On the Waterfront’s operating budget hovers around $1.5 million a year, the city provides the agency with in-kind police protection. Money for those police wages — $400,000 or more a year — comes from a special city fund aimed at improving downtown. Morrissey wants to switch that annual subsidy with something else that better serves On the Waterfront, taxpayers and downtown.”

Egad and little fishes! How fast can that cash be switched away from On the Waterfront and on to more productive purposes?  I used to love OTW as much as the next guy, but these days I think it’s OK to ask: What the heck is OTW really accomplishing for the couple million it spends? And, let’s be honest. That line of questioning must take a straight path directly to this: Should it just be killed?

One thing for sure. The city of Rockford ought not be spending $400,000 from a downtown improvement fund on OTW expenses of any kind. If OTW cannot completely generate the revenue stream to fund itself, then it’s time to cut it loose.