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Golf manager says Lago Vista course trending toward break‑even as irrigation work starts
Summary
At the May 26 Golf Course Advisory Committee meeting, council liaison Jess warned of an estimated $775,000 drop in property‑tax revenue while golf manager Greg reported doubling rounds and declining losses; Greg said irrigation construction began last week and is expected to finish by mid‑October to Nov. 1.
The Lago Vista Golf Course Advisory Committee met May 26 and heard a budget warning from the city council liaison and an operational update from the golf manager, who said the course is approaching break‑even as a long‑planned irrigation project begins.
Jess, the city council liaison, told the committee staff are preparing departmental budgets and taking a conservative approach after "an estimated $775,000 decline in property tax revenue," and that the city will treat the golf course and aviation as enterprise funds, which must be self‑supporting without general‑fund subsidy.
Greg, the golf manager and city staff member, gave a multi‑year performance report. He said three years ago the golf operation showed large general‑fund losses but has since improved dramatically: "3 years ago, 17,000 rounds of golf. Last year, just short of 33,000," Greg said, and reported year‑to‑date rounds are up about 12% with gross revenue up roughly 25%. He reported the operation's net operating income was about $150,000 in the red as of May 21 with four months left in the fiscal year.
Greg described the irrigation pre‑construction meeting as successful and said crews began laying pipe last Wednesday. He said much early work is on the course outskirts and that completion is expected in the window of mid‑October to Nov. 1, barring unusual weather or equipment problems: "The only instructions are acts of god and equipment failure…" he said.
Committee members asked how an enterprise fund surplus would be handled; Jess said spending will follow whatever budget the council adopts and that any increased expenditures should be tied to revenue generation. She also said a temporary draw from the general fund could be used to smooth seasonal variances if needed.
The committee approved the previous meeting's minutes by motion and heard extended discussion about communications and a possible public update about the irrigation project's benefits. The meeting closed after scheduling the next meeting for June 23, 2026.
Because several members raised figures and timelines at the meeting, the committee asked staff to provide formal budget documentation and for Greg to provide any pro forma or assessment documents he used so the committee can track progress toward the stated break‑even goals.
