The Center of Anna Maria Island planned to announce its spending and revenue plans for the fiscal year that began July 1 at a public meeting July 19 at the center — but the numbers weren’t ready.
It took several more days to finalize the plan.
For the 2017-18 year, the anticipated revenue is $1,103,104, while spending is $1,102,773, leaving a $330.28 reserve.
The 2016-17 budget originally anticipated $1,092,600 in costs, but expenses reached $1,168,818 by the end of the year, $76,218 more than expected.
“Last year, we overpromised in revenue,” board chair David Zaccagnino said July 19 at a budget presentation at the center. “This year, we will underpromise and overdeliver.”
The new budget has cut the previous year’s costs by $66,045, including a $64,914 cut to indirect and administrative spending.
For income, the center is using $12,000 from its endowment fund, and retaining the remainder of $130,000 in an operating reserve account. The center anticipates $45,000 in city funding, $25,000 in Manatee County funding and about $44,000 in grants.
The board set a goal of $450,000 from fundraising, including private funding and grants, an increase of approximately $80,000-$100,000 from 2016-17.
The center expects $579,500 in income from fundraising in the 2017-18 fiscal year. The budget’s planned expenses for fundraising are $163,310.30.
Spending in 2016-17 for fundraising was $154,540.80, and income from fundraising was $492,731.36.
The center anticipates earning approximately $135,000 from events along with about $50,000 from the annual Community Foundation of Sarasota Giving Challenge. In 2016, the center received $17,176 from the Giving Challenge.
The budget also provides for an approximate $42,000 bump in fitness program revenue, and $27,000 more from youth programs.
Executive director Kristen Lessig said member fees would be increased across the board to bring in more revenue, and a new sliding fee structure would be instituted to determine who gets discounted access to the center. She noted that an increase in member fees would increase income to programs.
According to the report, there are 20 families that pay reduced fees, including eight from the island and 12 from Cortez and Bradenton.
Lessig said the center renegotiated contracts for printing, payroll preparation and field maintenance, cutting costs by approximately $18,000.
In addition, the center will pull back on marketing expenses and staff benefits, including child care and health insurance.
The presentation reported that 4,882 individuals used the center in the 2016-17 fiscal year, primarily in fitness and sports programs.
Sports and recreation director Will Schenerlein said youth sports scheduling would work in conjunction with the programs at G.T. Bray Park in Bradenton so no youth sports would run concurrently between the two.
In addition, he said youth sports would have set seasons, in order to make it easier for community members to follow and participate.
He said the changes would improve participation and enrollment rates.
Lindsay Sauls, center events specialist and board member, said the center will maintain three major fundraising events throughout the year: the golf tournament in October, the mystery-dinner theater in February and the tour of homes in March.
For the rest of the year, she said, the center will prioritize community events with low overhead and low or no cost participation.
Board treasurer Jim Froeschle said some events that raised funds in previous years were falling flat due to changing demographics on the island.
Zaccagnino said the changes are based on community feedback.
He also said the center would work to establish a school bus stop at the center, so kids in the center’s after-care program could be transported from Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach to Anna Maria at no cost to the center.
Earlier this year, an internal audit conducted by the Florida Department of Transportation found a grant was incorrectly awarded for a bus. The grant was intended to benefit seniors, according to the report, but the center used it to transport children.
In February, the center returned the bus to the DOT, and is planning to seek new grants for vans or buses to transport children and adults.