The Eagle River City Council was informed this week the municipal golf course could run a deficit at the end of the year and may not be able to provide the $70,000 property tax relief.
City administrator Joe Laux claims the “financials are still not balanced and they haven't all summer” suggesting a need to sit down with course manager Patti Marquis “to get to the bottom of this.”
Marquis was not present at the meeting but provided a written response showing revenue is up 11% over last year at this time. She writes “the budget used in the last three years did not take into account increased costs and improvements” and of September 9 revenue “is $539,000 which already surpasses the 2018 ending revenue of $519,000 with 40 golfing days remaining.”
A new program, TeeSnap, has worked well for customers.
Marquis suggest a serious look at the budget including looking at increasing green fees and season passes. She said “paying the city $70,000 is not a realistic figure at this time.”
Mayor Jeff Hyslop suggested a special council meeting be looked at just on the golf course.
