In response to the Reiman Gardens admission fee issue, the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens was referenced as a good example for Reiman to follow with respect to financial issues. Matthaei is part of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and we have walked down much the same path as Reiman Gardens and face many of the same challenges. We are part of a major university, which has an annual budget of over a billion dollars. However, in recent history Matthaei has been responsible for generating the majority of its own funding, especially with respect to public programs. Only about half our budget comes from the university and only about 7 percent of our budget ultimately comes from taxes paid by the people of the state of Michigan. To meet our budget, we use a funding mix of admissions, rentals, memberships, gift shop sales and fund raising for our operations. Our current budget is about $1 million dollars and we have about 100,000 visitors annually. We are a 350 acre site, but only about 20 acres, including our buildings and parking lots, are planted or maintained. The majority of our site consists of natural areas with walking trails. Reiman Gardens is 12 acres of planted gardens. This is expensive and we applaud the gardens your community will soon have planted. Although we currently do charge only $3 for our conservatory, a recently completed marketing survey suggested that a $4 charge is more appropriate and should be applied to the whole property (i.e. all of our visitors would have to pay this fee, not just those visiting the conservatory). This suggestion, or even a higher admission, will need to be seriously considered as we go ahead with implementation of our recently updated master plan which, like the plans of Reiman Gardens, calls for additional building space and gardens. Public and university gardens charge anywhere from $3 to $7, and even more for the butterfly facilities proposed at Reiman Gardens and some gardens (e.g. Callaway Gardens in Georgia) have general admission fees as high as $15.Despite their idyllic appearance, botanical gardens are subject to economic realities. At the most recent World Botanic Gardens Congress in June 2000, the very first panel discussion of the conference focused on budgeting and financial planning; with the panelists emphasizing the critical need for a sound business plan. We have spent an inordinate amount of effort to bring financial stability to the Matthaei Botanical Gardens through the mix of funding resources. Unfortunately, we also have had to cut staff and programs, which, quite simply, was the result of inadequate business planning in the past.Gardens like the Reiman and Matthaei should be viewed as community resources. As such, it is important that the community of Ames rallies around its gardens and helps it in this most critical period when programming and staffing make all the difference as your gardens develop into an important regional resource. A community garden needs community support, including financial support. Reiman Gardens seems to be doing its homework; it has learned from the history of gardens located around the country, and is taking the important and necessary steps to stay ahead of operating needs with a variety of funding sources which should always include user fees.Dr. Brian J. Klatt

Associate director

Matthaei Botanical Gardens

University of Michigan