The Watchdog Report: July 2019 -- First month of the fiscal year

Below are the highlights of the Community Center financials for the first month of Fiscal Year 2019/20.

• The Community Center Fund lost $100,484 in July 2019.
• This is $65,148 more than it lost in July 2018.
• Troon lost $211,874.

• The golf membership dropped by two members from June 2019.
• July membership was down to 236.

• The total number of rounds played on the Town courses was 3,280 of which 253 were comped.

• The Overlook Restaurant lost $16,731.
• The good news is that the Community Center itself made $73,086.

The Community Center with its member dues, recreation programs, swim team/lessons, and rental income is making money. If the Community Center was all we had, we would not need the sales tax subsidy. If we were to continue with the sales tax subsidy and not worry about golf, we could make the capital improvements needed to update the 1980’s building and make it ADA accessible.

Although former councilmember Lou Waters continues to say, “I did not buy a golf course, I bought a community center,” the fact is that we continue to provide 45 holes of golf. And while the losses are less than in prior years, the losses continue, nonetheless.

In fact, Troon forecasts their losses to be $1,702,665 in FY 19/20. Oro Valley cannot and should not continue in this direction. Troon is forecasting member dues to reach $799,921 by the end of FY 19/20. This is $68,927 less than they forecasted in FY 18/19.
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Mike Zinkin has a Bachelor’s degree in history and government from the University of Arizona and a Master’s degree in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education from California State University, Northridge. He was a commissioned ensign in the United States Navy Reserve. He was an Air Traffic Controller for 30 years. He and his wife moved to Oro Valley in 1998. Mike served on the Oro Valley Development Review Board from 2005-2009 and the Board of Adjustment from 2011-2012. He served on the Town Council from 2012-2016 during which time he was named a Fellow for the National League of Cities University, he was a member of the National League of Cities Steering Committee for Community and Economic Development, and a member of the Arizona League of Cities Budget and Economic Development Committee.