But there is little doubt municipal golf courses, swimming pools and other recreational services would be targets if HB75 and HB76, sponsored by Rep. Craig Frank, R-Pleasant Grove, or SB45 by Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, were to pass.

Is providing parks and recreation a core function of government?

"We have dealt with the stigma that we are a nonessential service," said veteran Murray public works administrator Doug Hill. "People today recognize we are an essential service like police, fire and streets. We are as important to the well-being of our community's quality of life as all of the other services the city provides."

Hill understands the concerns of private recreation providers and of legislators. The private Fore Lakes golf course, for example, is near Murray's public layout. And the private Sports Mall is only a few blocks from Murray's swimming pool.

"We have gone through the process of why we are building these facilities," said Hill. "We fill a niche that the private sector is not meeting. Government can provide recreation services for a different group of people and we can both coexist."

A big problem with the privatization bills is they don't specify what happens if the board, which would be dominated by private business interests, determines a golf course or recreation center should be privatized.

Would a city or county have to sell a multimillion-dollar facility built with taxpayer dollars to a private group? Could it lease it? Or would it be closed? If a swimming pool or golf course is privatized and fees increased dramatically, would that be fair to the taxpayers who paid to have the facilities built?

The bills could be especially problematic for Utah State Parks, which owns golf courses in Heber Valley, Sanpete County and Green River as well as numerous campgrounds near private facilities.

Hill said golf in Utah poses a particular problem because the state has more courses per capita than any place in the U.S. That glut is great for golfers but often forces government subsidies. Can a private course make money without a dramatic increase in green fees?

Will the bills just address recreation or include other government activities such as state liquor stores or garbage pickup, where private businesses would love to take over? And are state legislators who complain about federal mandates imposed on states doing the same thing to cities and counties in Utah?

Before the two bills progress, these questions need to be addressed.

wharton @sltrib.com