Friends of the Zeiss Statement
Before Board of Directors,
Telephone:
412-561-7876
Electronic Mail: <
friendsofthezeiss@planetarium.cc >
Internet Web Site: <
http://www.friendsofthezeiss.org >
Good evening, I am Glenn A.
Walsh of
According to the annual grant
application submitted to the Allegheny Regional Asset District, last month by
the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, the Children’s Museum has run HALF-MILLION DOLLAR DEFICITS IN THE LAST
TWO FISCAL YEARS, in budgets of approximately two million dollars each! They also ran a $206,000 deficit in 2001 and a
$77,000 deficit in 2000! They justify this by saying that these are “transitional
years,” due to construction of the expansion project—even though the
groundbreaking was just last Friday! They also say that they have arranged for
money from the capital account to cover the deficits.
As the Children’s Museum did
in grant applications in the two previous years, this year they also forecast
no deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. Anyone looking at the last three grant
applications they have submitted can clearly see that the Children’s Museum
lacks any credibility, whatsoever, in fiscal accountability!
As a former Life Trustee with
the Andrew Carnegie Free Library, who served as Library Treasurer from 1995 to
1996, I find their financial behavior appalling and completely irresponsible.
If the Children’s Museum runs these kinds of deficits while still operating in
the small Old Allegheny Post Office building, what will their deficits look
like when they have a building four
times the size to operate? When the
capital account is all used-up, will they then expect the RAD Board to greatly increase
their subsidy, to cover these larger deficits?
Their business plan, for the
expanded building, includes rental income from non-profit organizations. I have
direct experience in such rentals, regarding the Music Hall and Lecture Hall of
the Andrew Carnegie Free Library. I know that such rental income falls short of
actual needs, as non-profit organizations can only pay so much in rent. If the
rent is increased too much, the non-profit organizations will not be able to
pay and will have to leave the Children’s Museum, leaving the Museum with even
less revenue.
If the Children’s Museum
expansion project must go forward, then additional revenue sources must be found
for operating the expanded building. The use of the Zeiss II Planetarium
Projector and 10-inch Siderostat-type Refractor Telescope, for historical
presentations, could be one way to attract more visitors into the building.
In May, we learned that The
Carnegie Science Center has abandoned their expansion project. And, considering
that the
The Board of Directors of the
Allegheny Regional Asset District should very closely scrutinize this year’s
grant application by the Pittsburgh Children’s Museum. And, to maximize the
revenue potential of the Buhl Planetarium building, we ask that this Board
insist that the Zeiss Projector and Siderostat Telescope be returned to the Buhl
Planetarium building for public presentations in the expanded Children’s
Museum.
Thank you.
gaw
Also see -- Children's Museum Deficits for Fiscal Years 2000-2003
News Release: < https://buhlplanetarium4.tripod.com/friendsofthezeiss/NR-ARAD-Buhl-8-27-2003.htm >