Oak Hills posts $706,000 net income; committee asks for multi‑year capital plan

Oak Hills Park Authority reported $2,717,000 in total revenue for the fiscal year ending June and ended the year with $866,000 in cash on hand, Authority representative Alan Dutton told the Finance and Claims Committee on Sept. 11. The authority recorded $706,000 in net income after paying lease and debt costs and capital expenditures.

The committee asked why the authority was holding a large cash balance instead of using it to reduce debt or accelerate deferred maintenance. Dutton said the authority paid $133,000 to the city based on 46,000 rounds played, $157,000 toward commercial debt and leased equipment, and spent about $300,000 on capital projects including the first phase of a trap/bunker renovation program. After those outlays, the authority planned to carry approximately $100,000 into next year’s capital budget.

Committee members said the cash position appeared unusually strong at peak season and asked whether some of it could be used to pay down city debt or fund additional capital projects. One member said July cash totaled more than $1 million with roughly $550,000 in a single account. Dutton responded that cash is seasonal and that the authority typically draws on reserves during fall and winter; historically it has sometimes used a credit line in low months. He emphasized there remains a backlog of deferred maintenance, naming cart paths, the maintenance area roof, and equipment storage as outstanding needs.

Dutton told the committee the bunker/trap project is about 50% complete and that the authority expects to finish the majority of trench and bunker renovations by the end of the current fiscal year. He estimated the authority would budget about $320,000 for capital next year and said another roughly $180,000 remains to complete the bunker work. He also noted a $20,000 pump repair earlier in the summer and discussed evaluating on‑site water sources and potential aquifers to reduce future water purchases.

Committee members requested a formal capital needs analysis covering the next two to three years showing prioritized projects and cost estimates so the committee can consider whether to shift cash to pay down debt or accelerate maintenance. Dutton agreed to prepare and send that analysis to the finance committee for review ahead of a future meeting.

The authority also noted operational items: July started the new fiscal year with revenue about $49,000 over budget and expenses about $10,000 over budget; weather had helped rounds played during the reporting period. The committee discussed the upcoming request for proposals for the tennis program operator; Dutton said the RFP is out and a vendor should be selected within about two months.

Committee direction: staff from Oak Hills will prepare a 2–3 year capital improvement plan with estimated costs and return it to the Finance and Claims Committee for review at a future meeting.

No votes were taken at the Sept. 11 meeting because the committee did not have a quorum. The report and the request for a capital plan will be carried forward to the next meeting for formal consideration.