Simply put, the city is strapped for cash. So even the most forward-thinking of city politicians has to realize the importance of dealing with today before looking to tomorrow.

That's why the council's recent decision to sell the North Campus Facility--the old Grace United Methodist Church property on Prospect Road--makes perfect sense in this economic climate.

Yes, it's a one-time infusion of money that should not be spent foolishly. Yes, you don't sell the house to pay the electric bill, as Councilman Norman Kline so eloquently stated. But neither do you make monthly car payments when you can't afford to pay the rent!

The North Campus is a white elephant simply because the facility is losing money on a monthly basis with no expectation of a positive cash flow in the foreseeable future. By selling the facility now, the city would realize a tidy profit on its initial investment of $4.5 million with the projected sale price reaching as high as $9 million.

Did the purchase make sense originally? Probably not. Governments, especially those in minimum service cities like Saratoga, should not get into the business of land speculation. And there really was no set plan for the facility when the purchase was made, except for a veiled notion that the senior center could take up residence there. When it was determined that the buildings would all have to be renovated before any group could operate there, even that plan made little sense.

At one point, though, there was a suggestion. The seniors hoped the city would make the main building there compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act--to the tune of $100,000--and they would move in. Once that move was made, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Substation could move into the civic center, and it would be a win-win.

The sheriffs have since moved on to Cupertino, though. And the city can ill afford to renovate the North Campus, then allow the seniors to operate there rent-free as they do at the civic center, especially since the senior programs currently operate at a loss. "They wanted North Campus and wanted to keep a good portion of where they are," said King of the seniors. "Should that amount of space go to an operation that we don't know how we are going to continue to fund?"

King's hope is that the city and the seniors can come together to develop a workable solution to the problem of space and the Saratoga News agrees. In fact, we believe that the city should use some of that North Campus profit to do some renovation work at the civic center to provide the seniors with the additional 1,000-square feet or so that they need.

In addition, the senior programs should fall under the umbrella of the Saratoga Recreation Department where Joan Pisani has done a commendable job of making that a profitable organization.

That, we believe, would truly make this situation a win-win.