Dear friend,
I wanted to share with you my guest editorial which appeared in the July 19, 2009 Rockford Register Star regarding the MetroCentre. Please read when you get a chance and feel free to send me your comments or questions at campaign@morrisseyformayor.com. Thanks very much.
All my best,
Mayor Larry Morrissey
City's Deal with MetroCentre Strengthens Facility's Future
On Monday night, July 13, the Rockford City Council approved a three-year contract with the MetroCentre that helps assure appropriate operating funds for the facility without raising new taxes. Unfortunately, the Register Star's Wednesday July 15, 2009 Editorial, "City Council may have tied its hands on MetroCentre" incorrectly portrays the Council's action.
The paper suggests that the Council "may have acted rashly and illogically . . . locking themselves into a deal" and putting the 'cart before the horse' because the ongoing work of the Venues, Festivals, and Special Events (VFS) Advisory Group is not finished. Those statements are not correct.
The editorial fails to recognize that the agreement specifically requires the MetroCentre to incorporate any future recommendations from the VFS Advisory Group that are adopted by the City Council. Far from being a "rash" decision, the agreement came after weeks of study, a 53 page report, and countless meetings negotiating the language of the document. There were even aldermen who voted "no" on Monday who endorsed the underlying terms and concept of a three-year agreement. By approving the agreement on Monday night, the MetroCentre can immediately receive needed funds for its ongoing operations while the VFS develops longer-term recommendations. The balance reached by the City Council enables the MetroCentre to market and promote the arena with confidence to promoters, ticket buyers, sponsors, and vendors who will know that the City has a long-term commitment to the facility.
During especially tough economic times, we should be examining the purpose and intent of our tax revenues. That is precisely one of the functions of the VFS Advisory Group. It is fair to question, for example, whether it continues to make sense for the City of Rockford to invest 100% of its Hotel Tax in the RACVB just like the RACVB questions whether there may be losses in local tourism if the RACVB redirects some of its funds to the MetroCentre.
The editorial goes on to state incorrectly that the Council's action Monday night "requires" the City to redirect Hotel Tax funds to the MetroCentre. In fact, there is no such requirement. The City has requested, however, that the RACVB voluntarily agree to redirect some of the $1.7 million it annually receives from the City's Hotel Tax and Redevelopment Fund. It is wrong to assume that redirecting Hotel Tax funds to the MetroCentre or Coronado instead of the RACVB would damage the local tourism industry. It is also wrong to assume that the RACVB couldn't raise funds from other local governments to replace funds redirected by the City of Rockford.
These are the types of questions that the VFS Advisory Group is investigating. The ongoing work of the VFS will continue an examination of the City's Redevelopment Fund and the City's Hotel Tax. The group will also analyze how the MetroCentre, Coronado, RACVB, and On the Waterfront might work together to increase local tourism by improving collaboration and operating efficiencies among the organizations.
The Rockford City Council helped create each of these entities that are working with the VFS and the City has financially supported these organizations since their inception. Our common interest now is to improve the community's overall tourism market and quality of life through great facilities, great events, and great organizations. We appreciate the work of each of the members of the advisory groups in helping to achieve those goals. We are poised now to continue that work while the MetroCentre has gained strong footing for its future.