MARK KIESLING: Opera House drama calls for compromise

The $250,000 grant given by the Porter County Council to fund salaries and improvements at the Memorial Opera House may cause the fat lady to sing.

The proverbial fat lady from the Wagnerian "Ring" cycle opera might be a fitting metaphor as her appearance marks the beginning of the end.

The grant squeaked by the council, but not without some serious dissent from both Democrats and Republicans.

As long as the building itself, built 118 years ago, continues to be owned by the county and the facility is operated by the county, it's almost incumbent on the county to pay the bills.

If the roof on the county building itself needed repair, there would be no question as to who would foot the bill.

But several council members expressed concern that providing $116,000 to create three new positions sets a dangerous and unneeded precedent for expenditures.

"I'm for small government," said Councilman Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd. "We've got to take care of the basics."

And do the basics include running an opera house?

I think there is an argument to be made for maintaining the building, built with money from the Grand Army of the Republic, the organization of former Union soldiers of the Civil War.

But I think there is also a legit argument based on Rivas' sentiments, and that the management of the Opera House should be privatized.

It is certainly not without precedent. The Porter County Expo Center is county-owned, but its kitchen is run by a private concessionaire.

After all, Brian Schafer, the business director and executive producer at the Opera House, says the facility supports itself and contributes to the local economy.

Any business that can make a go of it without county subsidy can surely be privatized, and if it wants to spend $116,000 on a bookkeeper, marketing director and house manager that's a business decision, not a political one.

Although Porter County is sitting on a nice nest egg thanks to the sale of its hospital, the supply of cash is not endless.

Councilman Jim Biggs cited upcoming expenses, none of which is inconsequential: The county's consolidated E911 system, mandated by the state, or the animal shelter and the questions over health insurance.

That the Opera House is an asset to Valparaiso, in fact to all of Porter County and Northwest Indiana in general, is not in question.

The question is whether Porter County taxpayers should be subsidizing this asset.

The opinions are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at mark.kiesling@nwi.com or (219) 933-4170.