Scurry County discusses golf course staffing, 20-cart lease and mower replacements in budget workshop

Speakers reviewed the golf course’s proposed budget (roughly $255,077) including requests for additional staff (a full-time position or several part-time hires), higher part-time pay/clothing allowances, expanded cart leasing to reach 20 units, and capital needs (bathrooms, concrete, 10 cart doors and new mowers). "If we add a full time person out there, insurance would be added," Speaker 1 said when summarizing the request.

Golf course representative Speaker 9 described how tournaments and extended hours create heavy staffing demand and said he needs more part-time help so he doesn’t accrue comp time. "Right now, nobody gets 2 days off ever," Speaker 9 said; Speaker 11 explained a legal threshold — working 80 hours in a 6-week consecutive period — that can force offering full-time employment and benefits. Commissioners weighed hiring multiple part-time employees (four part-time equals two full-time equivalencies per staff guidance) against hiring a single full-time employee, and discussed how benefit and comp-time liabilities could offset payroll savings.

On equipment, Speaker 9 presented two leasing scenarios for golf carts: an estimate near $78 per cart per month (Yamaha quote) versus $110 per cart per month (EZ GO). Commissioners noted seasonality — extra carts are most useful during peak months — and discussed lease-to-own options and battery (lithium) warranties (around seven years) versus gasoline units and fuel stability. Staff will return with refined numbers for carts, mower replacement timing, and utilities corrections before the budget adoption date.