North Elba considers a reduction in ORDA Funding

From the Adirondack Daily Enterprise:

September 29, 2011
By CHRIS MORRIS - Staff Writer, Adirondack Daily Enterprise

LAKE PLACID - The town of North Elba may cut its annual appropriation to the state Olympic Regional Development Authority in order to hold the line on rising costs.

That proposal, which would reduce North Elba's contribution by $150,000 per year, generated a "healthy discussion" during a meeting of ORDA's Board of Directors Wednesday afternoon.

Board member Bob Flacke said that while he appreciates the town's desire to reduce its expenses, now is not the time for North Elba to draw down its appropriation. He said new ORDA ventures like the Conference Center at Lake Placid are still maturing and need the community's support.

"This is not a wealthy organization; it runs cash poor every year," Flacke said. "ORDA cannot survive without income from the local government and without income from the state of New York - that's in my opinion."

Whiteface Mountain Ski Center and other venues take in revenue, but Flacke said the agency can't afford to make capital improvements to all of its property.

"It must have a shot of money to take care of those capital things," he said, adding that the town sees a great return on its investment in ORDA.

A member item started by the late state Sen. Ron Stafford once augmented North Elba's contribution by $175,000. Fiscal issues in Albany prompted state Sen. Betty Little to reduce that figure to $155,000 and then again to $130,000.

North Elba Councilman Derek Doty, who is challenging town Supervisor Roby Politi in the Nov. 8 election, told Flacke that as recently as last year, the town didn't receive a dime.

Doty noted that in the beginning, ORDA agreed to take over operation of the Olympic Center with the town paying the agency $425,000. That number has doubled to about $902,000, and Doty said North Elba is proposing to drop the figure to just under $745,000.

Full ADE Story

Notice that this is a town that gives money to support ORDA as opposed to the Town of Johnsburg that, more often, has it's hand out asking for $$. Just an observation.

adkskier wrote

Notice that this is a town that gives money to support ORDA as opposed to the Town of Johnsburg that, more often, has it's hand out asking for $$. Just an observation.

Here's an observation: The address of the Town Of North Elba is 2693 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY 12946
Here's an observation: Let us know the next time a ski racing event not involving high school students happens at Gore.
Here's an observation: Let us know when a televised ski event happens at Gore.
Here's an observation: Let us know the next time ORDA installs a 20 million dollar anything that has zero to do with winter sports in Johnsburg.
Here's an observation: Let us know which of the many money losing ORDA venues are located in Johnsburg.

Helping to fund ORDA is the least North Elba can do in light of the hundreds events that ORDA runs to fill the beds/food and bev locations and shopping in North Elba and load the town with sales and property tax revenues.

North Elba does not GIVE the money out of the goodness of their hearts - they have a 30 year agreement with ORDA.

Press Rupublican 9/29/11
Here is a quote from the article:
"Bob Flacke, who represents Warren County on ORDA's Board, expressed "deep thoughts" on losing revenue.

North Elba's agreement started 30 years ago, Flacke said.

"That amount of money was a fixed amount," which, at 2-percent inflation over 30 years, is some 60 percent less than what the town spent in 1982.

"And no one has ever asked the local government to do any more," Flacke said.

Over the same time period, the state has contributed substantial amounts of money — from $8 million to $4 million annually — in addition to grant funding, which has built Lake Placid and North Elba into an international sports destination."

You'll notice that North Elba's contribution has gone up from $425k to $902k.

If 80% of the revenue(just using 80/20 as an estimated revenue split though I thinks it probably more like 70/30) within Orda is generated in the Lake Placid area and the local town contributes $902k currently then Johnsburg should be kicking in 20% of what N.E. kicks in which would be $180k.

The same should go for Bell if it joins Orda - the local town would need to kick in to the kitty.  No ticky no washy.

Both of these things will likely happen (to quote Snoballs) when Hogs Soar in the sky but that would be the fair way to handle this.

I must agree with x...'s sentiment.  What percentage of ORDA's budget is invested in Gore and the North Creek area compared to the Lake Placid territory?  Ausable's info is appreciated with regards to kicking into the kitty... but it assumes equal distribution of ORDA funds, doesn't it?  

BTW, would love to see those Hogs myself.  I have seen the pig and zebra guys on the chairlifts at GORE a few times.... no joke!  

Hope it wasn't just a pole 20 hallucination on the adirondack express chair.  Brrrrrr.