The Metro Vancouver Regional District receives—and deserves—a lot of grief for its bloating bureaucracy, funding of non-core services, lack of direct electoral accountability, and ever-increasing pay scales, but let’s give credit where credit is due: their Parks committee is at least trying to find non-tax revenue to power their system. They’re just not very good at it.

Some of their decisions have been questionable. An iParks Navigator smartphone app, which they hoped would sell 30,000 copies at $2.99 a shot, has sold only a couple hundred downloads. It’s no Angry Birds, that’s for sure. It’s a money loser, plain and simple.

The Parks committee has also allowed beverage vending machines to be installed in some parks. Of course, they’re screening the machines so those nasty cola corporate logos can’t be seen. Why bother? Could more money be extracted from these companies by leaving their logo visible? Does a visible pop machine next to a concrete block bathroom building really offend our senses that much?

Anyway, Metro has a draft report on how to increase revenue in its parks system. Reports Jeff Nagel of BC Local News:

It says Metro will pursue enhanced services and programs consistent with park settings to expand the range of outdoor recreation opportunities while generating non-tax revenue streams.

A staff report says alternative revenue is of "great interest" to Metro due to the shortfall between the regional park system's core funding from Metro property taxes and demand for more facilities and programs.

The key in this plan is to not rob private companies of the opportunity to participate, but to partner with them. I get concerned when I read that Metro plans to bring a tent rental service in-house. Why? Why not let private event tent operators continue? When government competes with the private sector, it never goes well--unless they force a monopoly situation.

The best strategy for Metro Parks to pursue would be partnerships with a private company or society can add value to the parks system. For example, pursuing upgrades to facilities that couldn’t be funded by taxpayers is the way to go. Competing with the private sector isn’t. Hopefully these initiatives will be smarter than a $2.99 app price point. Needless to say, your Canadian Taxpayers Federation will be watching this plan’s development very closely.