Sandpoint council reviews Russell Sports Center finances and four operating options after six months

Sandpoint City Council members on May 28 reviewed six months of financial data for the James E. Russell Sports Center and heard public comment on four proposed operating options to address an ongoing operating deficit.

Community Planning and Development Director Jason Welker told the council that the facility, donated by Ginny and Jim Russell and opened Dec. 16, 2024, has incurred roughly $138,000 in operating costs and earned about $72,090 in revenue in its first six months, producing an expected shortfall of about $101,000 over the next year under current assumptions. "We're covering about 54% of the operation cost of this facility using membership and user fees," Welker said, noting that membership retention has been low and that some early startup equipment costs inflated the first months' expenses.

Welker said personnel is the largest expense: the center has carried roughly 130% full‑time equivalent (FTE) staffing on its books early on, including a full‑time facility supervisor and part‑time front‑desk staff. After a recent internal restructuring, he said the facility's full‑time labor charged to the center will be reduced to about 70% FTE beginning in June, producing immediate staffing‑cost savings. He said utility bills and one‑time equipment purchases also contributed to higher early costs.

The presentation gave four broad options for council to consider: (1) maintain current in‑house operations ('stay the course') under a new recreation facility supervisor; (2) adapt the building for multi‑sport use by adding…