The Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District Board of Commissioners held a regularly scheduled monthly meeting Monday morning where the main topic of discussion was the 2020 budget. District Manager Lawrence Blood stated that the annual operational budget is within $111,384 of meeting projected revenues, meaning that either more expense items need to be cut or more revenue needs to be earned.
But Blood indicated this budget will ultimately be balanced stating, “I’m confident we can get there.” Potential operational items discussed on the proverbial chopping block were employee sick payouts, a cost of $2,500 per year, and employee longevity payout, a cost of $4,080 per year.
Additional revenue options were discussed at length including increasing golf course rates by adding a surcharge and/or raising weekend rates. The golf course sells about 20,000 rounds annually; 60 percent of those are from individuals who live outside the district.
Commissioners discussed golf course pricing as it compares to neighboring courses and how to keep existing visitors coming back. Commissioners considered that when visitors play golf here, they also consider buying property, proving the golf course is a valuable mainstay amenity for the area.
Discussion also led to other ways to increase revenue such as increasing the traffic in the clubhouse restaurant by promoting it to all visitors, not just golfers, as well as considering an increase in district water rates. Budget conversations are expected to continue at the next meeting.
Pickleball needs improvement
A group of about ten district pickleball players led by Pat Elwood attended the meeting and asked the commission to add an improvement item to the 2020 budget in an amount estimated between $14,000 to $19,500 to bring the current pickleball courts up to a higher standard.
They cited that there are more than 400 people in the area who play pickleball regularly and that it is important the district provide a sufficient court for this growing sport. Elwood said pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports with 3.1 million people playing nationally, and that due to the poor state of the court some players are driving to Eureka Springs for the game.
Resistance was met by commissioner David Makidon who said that the tennis courts have “dead areas” on them just like the pickleball court, and the tennis courts improvements were not in the budget. Chair Linda Graves did not dismiss their request, however, and asked the group to present a specific plan for discussion and consideration.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 18 in the District Office.