News
GVR budget: Few taking interest
By Jaime Richardson, Green Valley News
When Green Valley Recreation board members presented the organization’s tentative 2010 budget last week, a total of three members attended the public meeting, which is put on specifically in to inform the membership.
Board members said they were surprised and disappointed.
Only one member showed up at the morning meeting, held at the La Campanas rec center Sept. 9, and that person was the spouse of a board member, said Board President Altie Metcalf. At a budget meeting later that day, two members showed up. Both meetings were open to the public and advertised in GVR’s publication, Keeping Current.
Metcalf said last year’s turnout was significantly higher.
The multi-million dollar organization, which typically has an annual budget of $6 million to $7 million, has about 24,000 members.
Metcalf said she was “astonished” by the low turnout, but also said it could be an indication that members are happy with the way the organization is being run. A large crowd could mean members are discontented, she said.
But board member Gunnar Bonthran said he was disappointed with the lack of member involvement.
“We need members to explain (their concerns) to us, help us,” he said, “instead of shooting arrows at us afterward.”
Budget approved
In spite of the poor turnout, the board voted Tuesday to approve the 2010 budget, which comes to nearly $6.9 million. That compares to a $7.1 million budget for fiscal year 2009, and $6.6 million for 2008.
Metcalf said there is a $114,000 decrease in revenue from interest income, but that GVR is anticipating spending much less on maintenance and natural gas.
GVR Executive Director Anndrea Blackshear said some of the items covered in the budget include parking lot repaving and repairing, new fitness equipment, decks for pools and spas, a fire alarm system, HVAC air conditioning systems and pool heaters. She said the final budget would be available online, at www.gvrec.org, by the end of the week.
The board also approved an amendment to set aside up to $270,000 to fund the refurbishing of tennis courts, particularly courts at the Desert Hills rec center, though this wasn’t specified in the wording of the amendment. Metcalf had made a motion earlier to take $135,000 of that amount from the Replacement Reserves fund, but it was shot down.
In general, GVR officials were positive about the organization’s finances.
Finance Director Jim Cassidy said 64 households joined GVR in July and August, compared to 39 in those same months last year, and said these numbers indicate an improving housing market in Green Valley. Blackshear said the number of season concert tickets sold in 2009 was, “despite current economic conditions, significantly higher than last year.”
In other GVR news, Joyce Finkelstein, head of the Nominations and Elections Committee, said six people attended the first board candidate reception, which she called a good turnout. The committee has already received a few applications from members who want to run for one of three open board seats in the February election, she said. The next reception is at 2 p.m. on Sept. 30, at the West Center.
jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726
Board members said they were surprised and disappointed.
Only one member showed up at the morning meeting, held at the La Campanas rec center Sept. 9, and that person was the spouse of a board member, said Board President Altie Metcalf. At a budget meeting later that day, two members showed up. Both meetings were open to the public and advertised in GVR’s publication, Keeping Current.
Metcalf said last year’s turnout was significantly higher.
The multi-million dollar organization, which typically has an annual budget of $6 million to $7 million, has about 24,000 members.
Metcalf said she was “astonished” by the low turnout, but also said it could be an indication that members are happy with the way the organization is being run. A large crowd could mean members are discontented, she said.
But board member Gunnar Bonthran said he was disappointed with the lack of member involvement.
“We need members to explain (their concerns) to us, help us,” he said, “instead of shooting arrows at us afterward.”
Budget approved
In spite of the poor turnout, the board voted Tuesday to approve the 2010 budget, which comes to nearly $6.9 million. That compares to a $7.1 million budget for fiscal year 2009, and $6.6 million for 2008.
Metcalf said there is a $114,000 decrease in revenue from interest income, but that GVR is anticipating spending much less on maintenance and natural gas.
GVR Executive Director Anndrea Blackshear said some of the items covered in the budget include parking lot repaving and repairing, new fitness equipment, decks for pools and spas, a fire alarm system, HVAC air conditioning systems and pool heaters. She said the final budget would be available online, at www.gvrec.org, by the end of the week.
The board also approved an amendment to set aside up to $270,000 to fund the refurbishing of tennis courts, particularly courts at the Desert Hills rec center, though this wasn’t specified in the wording of the amendment. Metcalf had made a motion earlier to take $135,000 of that amount from the Replacement Reserves fund, but it was shot down.
In general, GVR officials were positive about the organization’s finances.
Finance Director Jim Cassidy said 64 households joined GVR in July and August, compared to 39 in those same months last year, and said these numbers indicate an improving housing market in Green Valley. Blackshear said the number of season concert tickets sold in 2009 was, “despite current economic conditions, significantly higher than last year.”
In other GVR news, Joyce Finkelstein, head of the Nominations and Elections Committee, said six people attended the first board candidate reception, which she called a good turnout. The committee has already received a few applications from members who want to run for one of three open board seats in the February election, she said. The next reception is at 2 p.m. on Sept. 30, at the West Center.
jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726
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