The Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre is experiencing a $105,000 deficit this year and the City will be covering the expense.
The LGCC is a City owned public recreation facility but is governed by the Lloydminster Facilities Corporation due to liquor licensing rules, which is the reason why the City must foot the bill. The Lloydminster Facilities Corporation says while expenses in 2017 are down, so are revenues. They attribute this to lower green fee payers and a slow start to the golf season.
“If you lose two to three weeks of prime golfing time that affects the revenues of the golf course and certainly the economy we also have to take into account,” says Mayor Gerald Aalbers.
He adds that they will be looking at ways to prevent deficits in the future.
“One of the challenges you have with trying to determine shortfalls is it’s all driven by revenue, so it’s a catch 22. Certainly I think the board of governors which is comprised of members of Administration and City Council will look at sorts of alternatives and be discussing that with the management team.”
The money will not be taken away from any other projects according to the Mayor.
“There was a $3 million surplus at the end of year based on June’s projections from the Finance Department. So in essence we’re on track for a surplus, I don’t exactly how much that’s going to be but there will enough to cover that $105,000 shortfall.”
The LGCC also received $56,000 in an operating grant at the beginning of the year.