Further (insider) analysis on Albuquerque’s golf courses

Yesterday I posted an article about private management of City of Albuquerque golf courses rather than the Mayor’s plan to allow them to suck up more subsidies. I received the following (which reflects my own information) from an informed insider. As usually is the case with poor/costly provision of government services, the issue lies with government labor unions:

The reason the city courses are struggling is the pay and benefits given to city employees who maintain the facilities.  Benefits kill the “pay roll”. City employees maintaining the facility also makes for terrible course conditions.

And if you saw the contract the “concessionaires” sign (private business owners DO operate the “pro shops” and food sales at city golf courses) it’s embarrassing. They give over 16% of revenue back to city which makes it nearly impossible for them to make any money. The national average is 8% back to the city.

Normal golf courses pay the super (80k), assistant (35-40k) the rest are  hourly laborers. City is all union/salaried employees with full benefits. Getting them to improve golf course conditions is nearly impossible.