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Financial issues plaguing RAC
By Byron Painter
Editor
The Riverton Athletic Club is struggling financially, according to member Jim Good, and that is why the RAC has discussed selling its land.
Founded in 1937, the RAC was made up of Riverton residents that wanted to have organized baseball in town.
It is a not-for-profit organization that sponsors youth baseball, and it currently has 75 members, though only 12-15 attend the regular monthly meetings (on the third Sunday).
The property in question consists of 8-plus acres, two ball diamonds, concession stands and the RAC clubhouse; the club holds a liquor license so it can sell wine and beer
for fundraising events.
Typically, the RAC has hosted two fundraisers per year, the $10,000 Dinner (which in the last couple of years has not sold all its 200 $125 tickets) and the 4th of July event, but
this year, it decided to not host the July 4 event (the Riverton Eagles have stepped in).
The school district leases the diamonds for $6500 per year, and youth baseball is supported through their registration fees and baseball fundraiser.
Over the last several years, there has been a decline in youth baseball numbers and also in RAC membership, noted Good, and “it is becoming a real struggle financially to
keep up with the maintenance of the ball park.
“There are not enough new members coming forward to carry on the tradition of the RAC,” Good continued.
The club does not want to disband and would like to continue to organize youth baseball, Good said, but volunteers must be found and “we need to be able to be in a better
financial situation.”
With the above in mind, the RAC approached the school district about buying its property, because “at the rate we are heading, we will not be able to meet our financial
obligations in the next couple of years,” Good said.
The school district is also battling financial issues, as indicated by its recent cutting of several positions, but Riverton Superintendent Tom Mulligan said the district is
concerned about someone else possibly buying the property.
“We are in a tough financial situation right now, but as a district, we have to be able to provide a facility” for softball and baseball, he said. There are not backup fields in place if
the district lost the ability to use the RAC fields.
“We cannot just look short-term, but we must look long-term,” Mulligan said.
Even if the financial situation deteriorated to the point that all extracurriculars would be cut, Mulligan continued (the district is not anywhere near that point), they would be
brought back when the financial situation improved.
There is no guarantee that a different buyer would keep the fields, Mulligan commented.
Mulligan cautioned that discussions have just begun, and the district has not committed to buying the property.
“We have not said yes, but we have to at least be open to discuss buying it, for the long-term future of our kids,” he said.
The superintendent said that QZAB bonds could theoretically be used to help pay for the property if it got to that point.
There is no timetable for any possible purchase, Mulligan added.
By Byron Painter
Editor
The Riverton Athletic Club is struggling financially, according to member Jim Good, and that is why the RAC has discussed selling its land.
Founded in 1937, the RAC was made up of Riverton residents that wanted to have organized baseball in town.
It is a not-for-profit organization that sponsors youth baseball, and it currently has 75 members, though only 12-15 attend the regular monthly meetings (on the third Sunday).
The property in question consists of 8-plus acres, two ball diamonds, concession stands and the RAC clubhouse; the club holds a liquor license so it can sell wine and beer
for fundraising events.
Typically, the RAC has hosted two fundraisers per year, the $10,000 Dinner (which in the last couple of years has not sold all its 200 $125 tickets) and the 4th of July event, but
this year, it decided to not host the July 4 event (the Riverton Eagles have stepped in).
The school district leases the diamonds for $6500 per year, and youth baseball is supported through their registration fees and baseball fundraiser.
Over the last several years, there has been a decline in youth baseball numbers and also in RAC membership, noted Good, and “it is becoming a real struggle financially to
keep up with the maintenance of the ball park.
“There are not enough new members coming forward to carry on the tradition of the RAC,” Good continued.
The club does not want to disband and would like to continue to organize youth baseball, Good said, but volunteers must be found and “we need to be able to be in a better
financial situation.”
With the above in mind, the RAC approached the school district about buying its property, because “at the rate we are heading, we will not be able to meet our financial
obligations in the next couple of years,” Good said.
The school district is also battling financial issues, as indicated by its recent cutting of several positions, but Riverton Superintendent Tom Mulligan said the district is
concerned about someone else possibly buying the property.
“We are in a tough financial situation right now, but as a district, we have to be able to provide a facility” for softball and baseball, he said. There are not backup fields in place if
the district lost the ability to use the RAC fields.
“We cannot just look short-term, but we must look long-term,” Mulligan said.
Even if the financial situation deteriorated to the point that all extracurriculars would be cut, Mulligan continued (the district is not anywhere near that point), they would be
brought back when the financial situation improved.
There is no guarantee that a different buyer would keep the fields, Mulligan commented.
Mulligan cautioned that discussions have just begun, and the district has not committed to buying the property.
“We have not said yes, but we have to at least be open to discuss buying it, for the long-term future of our kids,” he said.
The superintendent said that QZAB bonds could theoretically be used to help pay for the property if it got to that point.
There is no timetable for any possible purchase, Mulligan added.
Issue Date: July 1, 2010
