Bills would sell naming rights at county parks
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Allegheny County should join places like Los Angeles in selling naming rights to county-owned attractions, a county councilman told his colleagues Tuesday.
Councilman Edward Kress, R-Shaler, proposed two ordinances designed to raise "alternative" sources of revenue. Such moves could help reduce the tax burden on county residents by providing new sources of money to support programs and services, Mr. Kress said.
The first measure would create a "department of alternative revenue" within the county executive's office. That proposal was sent to council's government reform committee for study.
The second proposed ordinance would require county officials to evaluate "all avenues for the placement of advertising, naming rights or sponsorship notices" in the county's nine parks. That measure was referred to council's parks committee.
Since 1999, similar programs have raised more than $12 million for Los Angeles County and $20 million for the City of San Diego, Mr. Kress said. "We have a tremendous resource in our county parks ... and in hard times we should do what we can to raise money to preserve them," he said. His naming-rights proposal drew bipartisan support with council members from both parties signing on as co-sponsors.
Mr. Kress, who was appointed to council after Chuck McCullough resigned to make an unsuccessful run for the GOP nomination for county executive, has proposed several other measures designed to raise money for the county in nontraditional ways.
Last month, for example, council approved an anti-fraud ordinance he proposed that protects and compensates people who report fraud against the county. Whistle-blowers who alert officials to abuses like double-billing or delivery of shoddy goods would receive a portion of whatever money the county recovers through a successful lawsuit.
First Published June 22, 2011 12:00 am
