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Commissioners signal end to annual subsidy for Wicomico Shores Golf Course, request rapid plan to stabilize operations
Summary
After reviewing enterprise fund results and operational reports, St. Mary's County commissioners agreed to discontinue a proposed general-fund subsidy for the county-owned Wicomico Shores Golf Course and directed staff to prepare a months-long plan to address operating losses and personnel implications.
County commissioners concluded during the March 10 budget work session that they would not continue a $70,000 general‑fund subsidy requested for the Wicomico Shores Golf Course and asked staff to produce a short, detailed plan for how the course could operate without that recurring subsidy.
Brian Lowery (identified in the meeting as golf operations representative) explained the golf course has run losses in most recent years and carries mortgage and OPEB obligations tied to past clubhouse renovations. "We've had our challenges since 2008 when the clubhouse was renovated," Lowery said, and the course's net accumulated position in the FY14 package showed a cumulative deficit.
Commissioners expressed reluctance to continue subsidizing an enterprise that competes with private clubs and to absorb another operating deficit into next year's budget. Commissioner Morgan asked how immediate elimination of the $70,000 would affect payroll and operations; Human Resources staff warned that a reduction-in-force process is governed by policy and that several longtime employees are near retirement. "There are obligations and steps required," the HR representative said.
The board directed county finance and human resources staff to develop a detailed, multi-month stabilization plan that examines options (rate adjustments, revised hours, operational changes, privatization/contract management, or targeted one-year fund balance support) and identifies near-term steps to avoid abruptly closing operations. One commissioner suggested applying only sufficient funds to bring the enterprise to break-even on the books for the coming year while staff develops longer-term options.
What happens next: staff will return in roughly two months with an operations and personnel plan that lays out scenarios to close the FY16 gap without adding an ongoing subsidy. Commissioners noted the matter could be placed on a future board retreat agenda for fuller policy discussion.
Votes/decisions: Commissioners signaled consensus to remove the proposed FY16 subsidy and to task staff with a stabilization plan; no formal roll-call vote was recorded.
