The Center of Anna Maria Island may not be in the black, but staff is hopeful for the future.
The center hosted a quarterly community meeting Jan. 25, drawing 24 people, not including staff and program leaders, to discuss how the organization is progressing out of its financial hole.
Center board treasurer Jim Froeschle said progress has been made to reduce the amount of debt the nonprofit is incurring month to month.
He said the deficit number has decreased for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. It is now down to an estimated $40,000 for 2015-16.
Previously, the center saw a loss of more than $1 million in a six-year span and that loss is not yet being addressed.
Froeschle said the lessening debt is due to a tighter policy on collecting money due for services from members, restructuring membership fees and growing programs without increasing staff.
Executive director Kristen Lessig reported that because of changes in staff and organization, the center is under budget in relation to staffing.
She also said she has has increased programming 37 percent, while membership has grown to 899. She hopes the number will reach her goal of 1,000 members by the end of March, when the seasonal population peaks on Anna Maria Island.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, along with several staff members, said how much they like the changes at the center. Murphy likened the relationship between the center and city to a marriage, saying he would lend as much support to the organization as possible while in office.
While the outlook is positive, the center is still reporting a negative cash flow. Froeschle said the center is relying heavily on support from private donations and will spend the remainder of the fiscal year building cash reserves.
“Our operating results show we’re getting this thing on the right track,” he said.
Froeschle, Lessig and board chair Bill Shuman stressed the need to receive community support to stay on the right financial track.
Shuman said, “We are the community center of the island and we need your support to be here.”
The center is at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.