The Ledger Dispatch's recent article about the fiscal study for Gold Rush Ranch (Sutter Creek's Gold Rush Ranch expenses, revenues, logged November 20, 2009) discussed the various ways the project can pay for itself and protect the taxpayers of Sutter Creek. The study pointed out some of Gold Rush's economic contributions to Sutter Creek: several thousand dollars for police and over $200,000 for roads in the first years of the project.

But the study was also interesting for what it did not include. For example, it did not consider the vast economic contributions from the creation of hundreds, if not thousands, of new jobs or the ripple effects on our economy from those jobs.

To be conservative, the study assumed that all the people who build, work at or live in Gold Rush will not spend a single dime in Sutter Creek's existing shops, businesses and restaurants. The study also does not count the significant land donations Gold Rush is making for schools, fire fighting, police, libraries and new parks.

I for one am glad that the economic study is being conservative by not counting these contributions. But, there should never be any doubt that between the study's conservative assumptions and willingness of Gold Rush Ranch to collaborate with city leaders, that Sutter Creek residents and taxpayers are going to come out miles ahead of where we are today because of this quality project.