Juneau nearly doubled what it gives Eaglecrest this year

Juneau's budget for this fiscal year puts $1,681,900 of general fund money into Eaglecrest Ski Area, up from $930,000 the year before.

The smaller figure would have cost the mountain most of its crew. Assembly finance materials said staying at $930,000 would force staff cuts of 56 percent, and that $1.68 million was what Eaglecrest needed to keep its fund balance from going negative.

It got closer to the edge than that. In April the Assembly Finance Committee deadlocked 4-4 on whether to study what closing Eaglecrest would cost, and the question went unresolved until the money was simply budgeted.

"The cost of operating Eaglecrest are much higher than they were previously when we were giving them $930,000," Deputy Mayor Greg Smith said at the time.

Skiers have already committed for the season. Eaglecrest has sold 1,165 season passes since July 1, worth $567,852, with total product sales of $758,413. Revenue for the year so far stands at about $2.23 million against $1.48 million in expenses.

Last season ended short. Eaglecrest brought in $3 million, including the $930,000 subsidy, against a budget of $3.79 million, leaving it $785,277 behind, though expenses also came in well under what was budgeted.