Spend a lot, save a little is the message of Regina's 2020 Recreation Facility Strategy. The controversial rink closures proposed by the report pale in significance next to the cost of new facilities. Before taxpayers are saddled with the bulk of $89 million in short-term building costs and higher long-term subsidies, City Hall should think twice. Even better, it should get out of the rec business entirely.

This report shows too many examples of our civic government dragging its heels in ways the marketplace would never allow. For example, a 1996 report said the city maintained far too many ball diamonds. Today, all 179 diamonds are still here, even though there are half as many ball teams and players.

The same goes for tennis courts. In 2003, another report demonstrated that based on demand, Regina's 57 courts were 19 too many. Now fewer play tennis, but the city has just as many courts. Avid tennis players consulted recently said they would trade fewer courts for better ones, such as the eight high-quality courts at the Lakeshore Tennis Club at Wascana Centre. Surprise -- they're the only ones not run by the city.

And why is the Regent Par 3 still open? The nine-hole golf course gets less use per acre than any other public open space in Regina. This was at least the third report in the past 25 years calling for the course to be shut down and the land used differently.

Will the city finally say yes? After all, there are 45 other courses in or near Regina.

Elsewhere, Regina's outdoor pools cost $700,000 per year to operate, with only 20 per cent of the cost recovered by user fees. At 120,000 swims, this amounts to a subsidy of $4.75 per swim.

Instead of higher user fees, the report proposes massive projects, such as a $25-million pool on the south end in conjunction with the YMCA. Two new theatres for $15 million, and a new floral conservatory for $7 million, are also on the $89-million shopping list. Taxpayers would be on the hook for $60- to $80 million of building costs and permanently increased subsidies for operations.

Even so, the report claims taxpayers will support these ventures for "the public good." That's doubtful. One-third of those surveyed don't want any tax increases for city services whatsoever. Similarly, one-third said that Regina's facilities are already sufficient.

Bingo! The same number of people who want new facilities are willing to pay for them, and everyone else wants the money kept in their pocket. This is a match made in heaven. Let the marketplace provide new facilities for people who have already said they're willing to pay.

Even better, let the city also turn its existing facilities over to non-profit groups or sell them to the private sector. This was a key recommendation to the City of Winnipeg by its Economic Opportunity Commission. It found that almost every city-run pool and exercise centre in Winnipeg lost money, forcing taxpayers to fork over $10-million in subsidies in 2006 alone.

Meanwhile, every YMCA made money, earning a combined profit of $900,000.

It's the same here. The YMCA in Regina has taken so many customers away from the city-owned Northwest Leisure Centre that the latter requires a 62-per- cent subsidy. These subsidies should spark far more controversy than rink closures.

Nevertheless, all this points to a solution for hockey as well. It may well be true that after taxpayers sponsor a $60-million, six-rink expansion of IPSCO place, there will be a few rinks too many. Regardless, the city should hand over the remaining rinks to non-profit groups or sell them to the private sector. Either high demand will make them commercially viable, or taxpayers will be spared endless subsidies for aging facilities. The privately-owned Sherwood Arenas are viable; why not others?

Besides, the largest desire expressed by citizens was for more walkways and trails, not hockey rinks. Unlike other proposed projects, this one actually is the proper domain of the city and has few long-term costs.

City council does its best work when it sticks to its core services and leaves the rest to the private sector.