KANAB GOLF COURSE SURVEY

of Residents & Taxpayers

In Kane County

 

The Kane County Water Conservancy District is proposing to build a destination golf course at public expense.  Millions of dollars of public revenue would be used to build this golf course. 

Stated Benefits of the Golf Course

Mike Noel, the Executive Director of the Kane County Water Conservancy District, describes the benefits of this golf course project in the following ways:  The golf course will be a financial success and a positive economic driver for Kane County. The project will create jobs and provide tax support for the city, county, and state.  It will increase spending on locally supplied goods and services.  It will provide support for our high school golf teams. 

Mr. Noel has stated that there will be no tax liability for homeowners because tourist and restaurant taxes would be used to back the $9,000,000 loan to build the golf course.  This loan would be provided by the Utah Community Impact Board and require a payment of $300,000 per year for 30 years.

He has stated that water needed to irrigate the golf course would cost very little because the Water District owns enough water shares to supply this water.  Additionally, the golf course would be built to maximize water conservation.

Costs and Risks of the Golf Course

In addition to potential benefits, there are a number of costs and risks associated with this proposed golf course.

Committing millions of dollars to this golf course over a period of 30 years will result in a lost opportunity to build other community projects of benefit to Kane County.  We do not know what projects we will need as our county grows over the next three decades.

Instead of paying for this golf course, our tourist and restaurant taxes can be spent on certain projects that have been funded with property taxes.  This would result in a reduction in the need to impose taxes on local businesses and homeowners.

The sport of golf is declining in the United States. Between 2002 and 2016 the number of regular golfers dropped from 30 to 20.9 million. In 2015, the Kanab Coral Cliffs Golf Course shut down because it was bringing in only half the money needed to operate it.

If the proposed golf course does not attract enough golfers to cover its own expenses, then Kane County residents may be paying higher taxes and water fees to support this ongoing loss. 

The financial projections being used by the Water District to promote this new project are based on the performance of golf courses in significantly more populated and accessible areas than Kanab. 

Our Water

We are experiencing the most severe and prolonged drought in our lifetimes. This golf course would be using water that may be needed to provide necessary security for our ranchers, families, and businesses as we move into the future.

Currently, there is no adequate water study to determine whether or not Kanab and Kane County will run out of water as our population continues to grow.

Please add your Comments below... And continue this public survey if you are a resident or property owner in Kane County, Utah.

List your ideas for community projects that you would like our public money to be spent on:

Do you want our local leaders to obtain an unbiased financial study to look at the benefits and the risks of this golf course project before making any decision to commit public dollars to this project?

Do you want our Kane County Commissioners to instruct the Water Conservancy District to stop all spending on this project until a decision is made on whether or not to fund it with our public money?