A new fiscal year has begun for the Center of Anna Maria Island, bringing requests for increased funding from the nonprofit to the island cities.
The three mayors on Anna Maria Island met with center executive director Kristen Lessig and treasurer Jim Froeschle July 15 to discuss the nonprofit’s plan for the new fiscal year that began July 1.
The center board of directors have yet to adopt a budget for 2016-17.
During the meeting at the center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, the nonprofit requested support from the three island cities to total $60,000, an increase over the $32,500 paid by the cities for the 2015-16 fiscal year.
The center receives funds from the three island cities annually to assist in providing services to residents, including child care and sports facilities.
Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson asked the center for a cost-and-benefit analysis of center programming to present to city commissioners before he considered proposing a funding increase.
“I think you guys have done real well. My hat’s off to you,” Johnson said. “We still need to be able to communicate the right information, other than ‘we’re doing fine, trust me.’ We can’t use that for decision-making in a municipality.”
Lessig and Froeschle agreed to provide the report.
“If you’re losing money looking after kids, that’s an easier sell than if you’re losing money on yoga,” said Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy.
“There’s a lack of knowledge about the center in Bradenton Beach,” said Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon. He suggested the center increase its partnership with Annie Silver Community Center in Bradenton Beach to create more awareness in the city.
A point of contention between the three island mayors and the center is the organization’s vacation rental program.
Lessig and Froeschle said there is no formal program between island vacation rental organizations and the center.
However, according to Lessig, Anna Maria Island Accommodations agreed to donate a “substantial” amount to the nonprofit this fiscal year — up to $100,000 — in exchange for its guests having access to the center’s fitness room.
The company is making a per-check-in donation monthly based on a fee they established for limited use of the center facilities.
Lessig said the vacation rental program is in the trial phase with Anna Maria Island Accommodations.
“We’re not done figuring out how it will look to the community but we’re not turning down a commitment for support or donations at this time,” Lessig said.
“I think you’re on a thin line and I think you should be careful,” Johnson said. He suggested creating a blanket program for vacation rentals that would be uniform throughout the community and provide access for more than just the center’s fitness room.
Froeschle said he worried creating a uniform rental membership would make that category more appealing than a family membership, which costs $1,200 per year.
“We have a lot more work to do on it,” Lessig said of the vacation rental membership. “We know that we need to work on it and determine the best way to tap into that market.”
Johnson said he would like to encourage more community participation at the center.
“You need to fix the message you’re giving to the community,” Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said, adding he would like to see a line added to the center’s budget for capital improvement projects that could be funded by Manatee County.
Murphy said Anna Maria would be willing to help the center gain additional funding from the county for capital improvements.
The center will host a town hall-style meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 25, to discuss the proposed budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year at the center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.