Should up to $273,000 of City residents Taxpayers dollars be spent at this time?

I want to make it very clear, that I am a baseball coach and very supportive of the game but unfortunately folks, we are facing epic budgets constraints and the what lies ahead of us does not look very promising.  With that said, I am not sure how City Council members can justify in spending up to $273,000 dollars of the taxpayers money.

Furthermore, Winchester Baseball is really NOT just Winchester residents, Winchester Baseball should rename their entity to something like Shenandoah Valley Regional baseball because this groups includes Frederick County (majority of players of WB are Frederick County residents), Clarke, Warren and even Hampshire and Hard counties from West Virginia.  Why are we spending our City Tax Dollars to support these other counties and even two WV counties?  Have we already consolidated or what?

To close, it's just the wrong time for spending such money when considering the status of our economy.  In my own honest opinion, I believe that City Council needs to save this money and spend it more wisely for this moment in time unless these other counties of Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Hardy and Hampshire County, WV are willing to throw in some cash.

Review the history of the e-mail dialog that started back in February of 2009.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Date: Mon, Jan 4, 2010 at 4:21 PM
Subject: Fwd: Inquiry (10yr old 2011 World Series)
To: miltmcinturff@hotmail.com, Robert Noe
Cc: Adrian O'Connor , Alex Bridges , Vic Bradshaw



Dear Milt and Bob,

OK, WHY would the City of Winchester support such an event if it does not even fall under the umbrella of WPRD?  I believe in my own honest opinion, I do not see how City Council can support such an event in such epic budget constraints we are facing and even facing against this upcoming year.  Sorry, just bad timing as this money needs to be spent elsewhere. 

I look forward to next weeks City Council meeting as I will be sharing my concern and I want to make it know that I am not against this as I am baseball coach but I am against supporting something that does not even fall under the WPRD umbrella and most likely 80-90% of the kids will be Frederick County residents.  Winchester's taxpayers money should not be spent on such event.

To close, just a very strange way to spend local taxpayers dollars of up to $273,000 to get somewhere from $8k-$18k in local tax revenue if you ask me.

Regards,
JEFF

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bradley Veach
Date: Mon, Jan 4, 2010 at 1:27 PM
Subject: Inquiry
To: coachmilburn@gmail.com

Dear Jeff,

Good afternoon and Happy New Year.

The World Series is a tremendous opportunity to provide Winchester with terrific exposure and showcase our wonderful community. Over the 10 day World Series event, the community will also reap the economic benefit of hosting visiting players, coaches, officials, and their families from all over the United States in our hotels, restaurants, etc. Many members of the Winchester business community have already indicated their support of this event. Specific economic impact data can be found in the presentation I made to city council on 12/22/09. I have attached the PowerPoint for your review.

On a much smaller scale, pursuing the opportunity to host this event is similar to countries competing to host the Olympics. No country goes through the process of hosting the Olympics solely because of the experience that hosting such an event provides that country’s athletes. They pursue the opportunity because of the tremendous exposure it gives their country. The outcome of the games and their athlete’s experience in participating on their home turf or court are ancillary benefits.

As a host locality, Winchester does indeed get to put a team in the tournament to compete in the 10 team field. At this time, there is no way to determine the residency status of those team members as they are currently only 8 years old. Although this World Series event is sure to be a tremendous experience for the Winchester area players that will participate, their experience is not the only reason Winchester Parks & Recreation is partnering with Winchester Baseball to bring this event to Winchester. The primary reason for pursuing this event is the exposure opportunity and the boost it will provide to the local economy.

In regards to your comments that Winchester Baseball (WB) operates under the umbrella of WPRD, that simply is not true. WB is an independent organization just like Winchester/Frederick County Youth Football, Winchester BMX, Shenandoah University, Winchester Swim Team, local horseshoe clubs, Shamroc/Winroc R/C Car Club, Rolling Thunder, AARP, Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging and others who currently pay to use or have used the park facilities in the past and WPRD will not speak on their behalf. WPRD facilitates these groups by providing space for them to use; we don’t operate these groups.

Occasionally, WPRD does ask for information, such as participant data, when we are reviewing and creating agreements however we do not require this information each year and we only ask for it when we feel it is necessary.

Respectfully shared,

Bradley S. Veach, Director
Winchester Parks & Recreation Department
1001 East Cork Street
Winchester, VA 22601
Phone: (540) 667-1573
Fax: (540) 678-8791
Website: www.winchesterva.gov/parks
Register online at www.winchesterva.gov/parks to receive our monthly e-publication, ActivitE-News

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael White
Date: Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Subject: RE: ??? about 2011 10yr old World Series
To: coachmilburn@gmail.com, Bradley Veach


There was never $$ specifically allocated toward the lights at Bridgeforth in the last 2 years.  Funds were requested to replace the lights in the park’s FY09’ and FY10’ Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budgets.  However, given the economic conditions and the tight budget cycles we’re in, those funds were not approved.  Funds to replace the lights at Bridgeforth were also included in our EECBG grant application ($405k).  We should find out the grant awards very soon.

You’ll need to check with Winchester Baseball on their % of residents from the area localities.  We don’t have that specific information.

Again, you’ll need to check with Winchester Baseball regarding that question.  Saying that, I don’t think it’s fair to ask them to predict the future.  The kids that will play on that team are 8 years old right now.  Who knows what talent may move in or move out of Winchester in the next 2 + years?

At this time, there are no plans to seek financial assistance from surrounding localities to support this event.

The $100k for the lights was included in the presentation made to City Council on 12/22.  If the city is successful in obtaining the grant funding, then the $100k gets deducted from the original request.  If the city is unsuccessful in obtaining the grant, then the $100k light replacement cost is still included in the original request to city council.


Hope that helps.


Mike 

Michael White, CPRP

Operations Superintendent
Winchester Parks & Recreation Department
1001 East Cork Street
Winchester, VA  22601
(540) 667-1573 - phone
(540) 678-8791 - fax 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <coachmilburn@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Dec 21, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Subject: ??? about 2011 10yr old World Series
To: Milt@dealerslot.com, Bradley Veach , mwhite@ci.winchester.va.us, miltmcinturff@hotmail.com, evanclark1@yahoo.com, mcbutler82@comcast.net, Les@veachinsurance.com, art@gearclean.com, tdiva@ntelos.net
Cc: BWigley@su.edu, Jack MacDonald , Adrian O'Connor <aoconnor@winchesterstar.com>, Vic Bradshaw , Alex Bridges <abridges@nvdaily.com>, Robert Noe , Anne Lewis , mike_carroll@wahazel.com

Dear Mr. Veach, Mr. White and Mr. McInturff and other CC members,

this is great that Winchester is going to host such even BUT I have a few questions:

- What is the breakdown of the kids playing in the Winchester Baseball league for ages 8-12? 

- How many kids are actually Winchester City residents?

- How many kids are from Frederick County?

- How many kids are from Clarke County?

- How many kids are from Shenandoah County?

- How many kids are from Warren County?

- How many kids are from the state of WV?

- How many City residents' kids out of the 12-15 team members will be on this World Series team?  From years past, the perception has always been that the All-Stars teams are pre-selected because the All-Star coaches are always hitting indoors at the Armory or other venues which allows indoor hitting.

- Will these other counties be assisting with the money that is needed from City to host such event?

I have much concern about funding a project were more than 75% (educated guess) are non-city residents.  If my educated guess is realistic, then I feel that the County of Frederick and other counties need to support help this project in my honest opinion. 

- Last question, what is the total money that is being requested from the City to host such event for the bid and improvements to the facility?

Others that I have BCC'd, if you agree or disagree, please reply ALL to include share your thoughts on this matter.  Please review attached document.

Any questions or concerns, please give me a call.

Thank You,

Coach Milburn

Other information related to this matter :

Friday, October 9, 2009

What are Economic multipliers?

To learn more about Economic multipliers and how they should be viewed with much skepticism, click on the following:

Economic Multipliers and Mega-Event Analysis

Rejecting “Conventional” Wisdom: Estimating the Economic Impact by College of the Holy Cross, Department of Economics Faculty Research Series

Posted by THE PIBBSTER at 9:10 AM

 

Friday, October 9, 2009

Economic Impact on the City if Winchester Baseball is able to host the 2011 10yr World Series

Wanted to share with the local community that the perception taken from this e-mail sent on October 8, 2009 sent from WPRD official [Mike White, Operations Superintendent] is that they are finally admitting that the previous numbers presented by [Brad Veach, WPRD Director] to City Council back in February of $1.2-$2million were skewed and not researched thoroughly.  These numbers of $1.2-$2million were disputed back in late February after they were presented to City Council for consideration for requesting money by WPRD for improvements to the Rotary Field.  The concern was meant by WPRD resistance in the failure to acknowledge the twisted figures until this October 8th e-mail.

-----Original Message-----

From: Michael White

Date: Thu, Oct 8, 2009 at 10:04 AM

Subject: economic impact study

To: The1nOnlyPibb@gmail.com

I read your blog…pretty interesting information.

I’d be interested in looking at your figures on the economic impact of having the Babe Ruth World Series come to Winchester.  We’ve seen different studies and different methods of calculating the impact on these tournaments and events.  What we’ve found is the impact numbers are approximate figures and that it’s tough to determine the exact impact.  I’d be interested in taking a look at your numbers and see what you used for a dollar turnover multiplier, etc.  I’ve run the numbers myself using different formulas than what was initially provided.  I used an average daily spending amount recommended by a national expert in parks & recreation from Texas A&M University.  What I came up with was in between your figures [$337k-$472k] and the $1.2 million figure previously mentioned in the newspaper.

  

Also, if you’re interested in an update on Bridgeforth field and where the renovations stand, feel free to swing by or give me a call.  Kevin Sine and John gave you accurate information on the current project but I can let you know where the committee currently stands and what our plans are moving forward.

Thanks,

Mike

Michael White, CPRP  

Operations Superintendent  

Winchester Parks & Recreation Department  

1001 East Cork Street  

Winchester, VA  22601  

(540) 667-1573 - phone  

(540) 678-8791 - fax

For the record, these numbers of $1.2-$2million economic impact for hosting a World Series event were sent from the Babe Ruth Headquarters.  Organizations considering hosting such an event much realize that the headquarters executives will make it appear as lucrative as possible because they need host cities each year and the league host officials should do their due diligence.

-----Original Message-----

From: Bradley Veach [mailto:bveach@ci.winchester.va.us]

Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 10:53 AM

To:

Subject: RE: local economic impact

It seems to be the standard formula that Babe Ruth shares with all communities in which a World Series is hosted.  I understand what you are saying but I don’t think you realize that the $400K pumped into the community is unrealized beyond the event.  For example, the hotel is paying its staff with this money; their staff goes out and buys something from a local business that pays taxes to the locality, etc.  Most of the money collected will flow through the community beyond the 10 day event.  The communities that host the Series range anywhere from 11,000 people to over 80,000 people according to the folks I personally spoke to in IN, CO, and LA.  Indiana has hosted 4 tournaments over the years and they were pushing Babe Ruth to make them the host site as they realized the dramatic impact it had on their local economy.  Of course, Babe Ruth only allows one area to host it year after year and that is in Aberdeen so their request was not approved.

Folks who use this formula locally did not question the numbers.  I’ve shared this with some local businesses and tourism folks who use these types of formulas all the time and they did not question it.  I think they probably have a better economic background that you or I and realize the potential of this 10 day event and they have the greatest potential to reap the benefits of such an event.

Thanks for your thoughts.  Have a good weekend.

Brad

-----Original Message-----

From:

Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 8:42 PM

To: 'Bradley Veach'

Subject: RE: local economic impact

Brad,

Just wanted to share what I have learned about this compounding factor formula.  Babe Ruth is using an economic impact spending study on a university town.  The University of Georgia is an annual/reoccurring impact on that local economy.  The WS event is just a 10-day event.  That is like comparing apples to oranges.

I believe their figure of $414,600 is a high estimate and is in the ballpark.  I am working on a more detailed analysis of potential revenue that could be drawn into the City of Winchester.  Again, I am concerned about this $1.2 - $2 million dollar figure is being communicated with the community.  Some people will be under the impression that $1.2-2million will be flowing into this town for this 10-day event and that is very misleading.

Again, I am not against the World Series coming to Winchester but I do like this revenue number being thrown out that is unrealistic.

http://www.terry.uga.edu/news/releases/2002/uga_spending.html

 

Posted by THE PIBBSTER at 12:07 PM