Just like Julius Cesar had a bad March, so did the Oro Valley Golf and Community Center. The Community Center Fund (CRF) ended the month $346,907 in the red. This was a gain over February, where the CRF ended $477,986 in the red. So, we are 75% through the fiscal year, the fund remains in the red, and the still owes a $120,000 payment to the General Fund Contingency and $454,808 in promised capital improvements. This is your money, your sales tax money, like the way it is being spent?
Troon, which handles golf, food, beverage, non aquatic center swimming, and some tennis, lost $77,103 in March. Troon forecasted only to lose $25,754, missed it by 33%. How do they manage to keep their job with their 2.5 year record of poor forecasting? Troon has lost $1,809,051 and we still have 25% of the fiscal year remaining. Troon has upped their yearend forecast from $1,534,505 to $2,038,334 to $2,092,218.
Councilman Solomon bragged how “we had over 7,100 rounds of golf played in March.” This is true, however 2,046 were member rounds and 602 were complimentary rounds. Golf memberships increased by one, to 239, a far cry from the 318 that Troon desired by December 2016.
The Overlook was forecasted to make $27,021, but LOST $3,204. The food and beverage portion of Troon has lost $93,705 through March.
As reported in the May 10, 2017 Explorer, as well as LOVE, the FY 17/18 budget has $75,000 coming from the Bed Tax Fund for tennis court improvements, another $75,000 coming from the Water Utility Fund for a water main replacement at the Community Center, and only $50,000 coming from the CRF for cart path improvements. Wasn’t the CRF the fund that was suppose to provide ALL the revenues for capital improvements? Of the $200,000 being spent on the Community Center, only $50,000, or 25% is being provided by the “special fund.”
The May 10 edition also reports that Councilmen Solomon and Rodman are considering taking additional monies from the General Fund Contingency “to do some onetime expenses that will have a return on investment.”
First of all, BOTH these gentlemen stated time and time again during their campaign that “we have a fund set aside to handle all the Community Center needs”. Also, it has always been the Town’s philosophy that “one time expenses be paid for with one time revenues. This would be a departure from this philosophy.
Councilmen Solomon and Rodman, if you desire to spend General Fund Contingency monies, why don’t you spend them on a Park…like Naranja. That way your constituents will get something they desire. They NEVER desired anything like a golf course, more swimming pools, or a restaurant. What your constituents desired is spelled out in the June 2014 statistically valid survey. Why not think about the people who put in office and spend THEIR MONEY the way they desire?
Councilman Rodman is a member of the Gallery Golf Club. A club that fired Troon. If Troon was not spending Councilman Rodman’s money responsibility, why does he allow them to spend your money?
The Council is beginning to falter with this fiscally irresponsible purchase. Next month will not show much improvement, if any. Then the months of May and June are when the snowbirds are gone and golf really falters.
Et tu Hiremath et al