It's a charity pitch to donate what you can. But instead of benefiting a not-for-profit group, it's for the KCMO Parks Department.
City officials are asking for money from residents to pay for Kansas City's famous fountains. The department says if every water customer donated a dollar, it would pay for the city to turn on all the fountains next spring.
The J.C. Nichols fountain was turned off Friday for the winter, but fountain fan John Paul Hornbeck says he'd kick in a few bucks to help turn the water back on next spring.
"Oh... 20 bucks a year. I don't have that much. I'm a college student in the middle of a recession," said Hornbeck.
Three of the city's 47 fountains stay on year round, but the parks department warns that those may be the last sprays you see. It's the first warning shot of next year's budget battle.
"But if you don't have the public funding, you have to have some other options. Then I guess the other thing is, they're just not running, of course, and I hate to see that happen." said Mark McHenry, the parks department director.
An appeal for donations will be in Kansas City water bills starting Monday, November 2. It solicits donations from $5 to $500.
The parks department says electricity to run the fountains costs $168,000 a year. The water department stepped in to pay that bill this year, after the city cut the parks budget, but it won't guarantee it next year.
"Sure we have economic districts like the Power and Light. But those are a dime a dozen, like Starbucks. But this is what makes our city unique and what people come here for." said Hornbeck.
City officials already say next year may see tens of millions in more budget cuts. That's why the fund raising is starting now. When the parks board first discussed this a few months back, they said it would be all or none.
They don't want people to donate only for specific fountains and the same goes for corporate donations. The parks department wants the big money, but don't expect to see fountains renamed for a sponsor.
For more information go to
www.kcmo.org/fountains. There you can find donation forms, or you can send a donation as a check (payable to KC Parks) to: Friends of the Fountains, 4600 E. 63rd St. Kansas City, MO 64130. Donations to municipalities are generally tax deductible under Section 26 USC 170 (c) (1) of the Internal Revenue Service.
