MY VIEW | Tennis Center deserves town investment

Jack Daly

Commissioner

There have been a lot of recent comments and opinions about the Public Tennis Center lately. They include: 

• The history since the beginning; 

• Whether the town should subsidize the Tennis Center, and if so, how much;

• Whether the Tennis Center is now a self-sustaining financial operation;

• What has been, and is presently, the role of the Friends of Tennis (FOT); and

• Whether the Tennis Center should be a private operation or continue as a public facility.

With respect to these issues, I offer the following facts and opinions:

Initially, the town provided the site and has funded the capital building costs, (with substantial help from FOT), with the objective, as I understand it, that the operations and maintenance expenses of the Tennis Center be funded by revenues from tennis members, guests and visitors.

All the physical  facilities at the Tennis Center are owned by the town, and like other town-owned facilities, (such as Joan Durante and Bayfront parks), as indicated from time to time by the town manager, by way of example, in the event of damage from a sink hole or other similar occurrences, such would be addressed and remediated by the town.

 The Tennis Center’s current (fiscal year 2015) finances and its preliminary  2016 budget were reviewed at last week’s Town Commission public workshop. Here are some facts:

1. Starting this year, the town established a standalone fund and a separate budget for all the revenues and anticipated expenses of the Tennis Center.

2. For fiscal year 2015, the Tennis Center’s current projection is that its revenues will exceed its operating expenses, including an annual capital reserve of $15,000;

3. The preliminary fiscal year 2016 budget reflects total revenues of $571,090,which exceeds the projected total of operating and anticipated capital expenditures of $35,000 (utilizing $15,000 from the 2015 reserve and another $20,000 capital expense in 2016). 

4. The separate Tennis Center fund and budgeting permits the Tennis Center to carry forward and/or balance operating costs pluses and minuses; and if necessary, by also utilizing dollars from budgeted annual reserves in the $15,000 to $20,000 range.

In sum, the operations of the Tennis Center are financially self-supporting, including anticipated capital needs, now and for the foreseeable future, without any town subsidies. 

I understand this is not the case in most public tennis centers, including those in nearby Sarasota and Bradenton.

Like I previously indicated FOT, historically, has significantly funded many Tennis Center projects as needed and requested from time to time. At the present and in the near future, it appears to me that any Tennis Center funding by the FOT should be completely discretionary as desired by the FOT, to enhance Tennis Center activities over and above its anticipated operating and capital needs.

In summary, as I see it, for the present and currently anticipated future of the Tennis Center, the town and Longboat Key community may well be experiencing the best of both worlds, in our unique LBK community. Simply put, we have a wonderful, premier public tennis facility, beloved and currently completely financially supported by its members and guests, including both operating, maintenance and anticipated capital needs, with perhaps additional amenities as desired by the FOT — to quote the recent editorial “without  a nickel of taxpayer  money.”

Having said all that, because most agree that the Tennis Center is one of Longboat Key’s most important and key amenities that we all benefit from, much like the beach and public parks, if financial circumstances were to materially change, I personally would deem it appropriate and would favorably consider a reasonable level of town funding to support the Tennis Center, much like other town facilities.

Jack Daly is the District 2 Longboat Key town commissioner.

I personally would deem it appropriate and would favorably consider a reasonable level of town funding to support the Tennis Center, much like other own facilities.