Ever wondered what value your community center and golf course bring to your community? What it costs? Why don’t other communities have them? Here are some answers to those questions which may (or may not) help you understand where some of your tax money goes to.

 

The BCC was built in 1993-94 for the price of $4.5 million and the golf course for around $3 million from start-up in 1986 through expansion into the early 1990’s.

 

The Becker Community Center has a 2018 budget of $1.2 million dollars. That includes a revenue expected around $641,700 and tax support of around $600,000.

 

Expenditures for the BCC include payroll of around $601,969 and utilities budgeted at $105,000 for 2018. In the last 10 years, staff has replaced boilers, replaced part of the roof, put in a pool mechanical room, fixed the front parking lot, put in UV lighting, installed a dehumidifier, re-did the pool deck and installed some new flooring.

 

Pebble Creek Golf Course’s 2018 budget is $3.2 million with revenue coming in at around $1.5 million and expenditures around $1.6 million. The main revenue for the golf course comes from green fees, golf car rentals, driving range, merchandise and food & beverage sales.

 

Expenditures for Pebble Creek include utilities, insurance, personnel and repairs to the course and buildings. The maintenence of the course requires the most resources through labor, equipment, watering, fertilizing and chemicals.

 

Pebble Creek’s wages (insurance, PERA, FICA, unemployment, worker’s comp) total around $622,000.

 

The BCC experienced nearly 500,000 member visits in 2017 while Pebble Creek saw an increase in season pass holders to 240.

 

The BCC provides a comprehensive and diverse mix of amenities, programs, events and opportunities. They feature a swimming pool, a community garden, a hot tub, sauna, a lobby, a fitness room, a weight room, Teddy Bear Junction, program and meeting rooms, a library, greenspace and a gymnasium.

 

Pebble Creek features a 27-hole golf course, driving range, putting greens, a lunch counter, a bar/restaurant, a banquet room, an outdoor deck and a pro shop. The banquet room is used for weddings, corporate events, holiday parties and training sessions.

 

The BCC  services around 100,000 families and individuals who regularly attend their youth and family events. Those events include Adventure Zone, family swim night, kid’s play, rockwall, swim lessons, family & youth passes, 5K series, 5th Quarter, boy’s and girl’s night, calling all cooks pre-k camp, Cooking with Mrs. Claus, gingerbread house, kiddie parade, Santa Claus breakfasts and a Valentine’s party.

 

Pebble Creek hosts numerous high-profile tournaments including the MSHSL Class A tournament, the Coborn’s Family Foundation, the Sherco Classic and the Minnesota Rural Electric Associations Burn Center Benefit. They also allow use of their facility for pallet painting, Coach purse bingo, live music, comedy shows, and the expansion of their bar & grill.

 

For the BCC, their biggest need to focus on moving forward is their space needs. Currently, Jamie Cassidy and staff have been working hard to  utilize the meeting rooms more efficiently and find more storage space for new and old equipment, tables and chairs. They recently purchased a gym divider to help split up space use in the gymnasium by dividing it into two or three sections.

 

“Recruitment of quality staff  and retention has always been a difficult challenge for staff through the years,” Cassidy said.

 

For Pebble Creek, Troy Malo considers the master plan as his highest priority. “The master plan plays a large role in our ability to be competitive going forward,” he said.  

 

Other reinvestment opportunities include updates to the building with the possibility of more banquet space as business grows. He’d also like to see some pro shop remodeling, furniture in the bar area, and upgrading the entrance to the grill and bar.  

 

“Our roof and exterior should be in pretty good shape for a few more years,” he said. “The roof was replaced in 2008 after hail damage. The siding appears to be in pretty good shape, we just need to stay on top of keeping it stained and maintained.”

 

Cassidy best describes the BCC as the “heart of the community”.

 

“It’s a place to gather where you can visit the library, use a meeting room or gym, attend a fitness class or just grab a cup of coffee. It’s a great place for junior and senior-age kids to hang out, visit and work on homework after school.”

 

“Our goal is to reach people and strive to be accessible, accommodating and user-friendly with quality facilities and services.”

 

For Pebble Creek, Malo hopes he and his staff can continue to be systematic and methodical in their reinvestments by capitalizing on opportunities while  not allowing things to accumulate over time.  

 

“People need to stop out and experience the facility to develop their own opinions,” said Malo.  “Our goal is to be a friendly place with a relaxed atmosphere where anybody can feel comfortable.”  

 

Malo says being open this winter has been a great tool to help expose the facility to people who may not otherwise visit.  

 

“We want a culture and atmosphere that all feel welcome in and all receive a high level of customer service and appreciation for visiting.  Similar to the community center, this facility should be something the entire community can rally around and enjoy. It should be the spot people want to go to when they think about hanging out with their friends, enjoying a sunset on the deck, recreating outside, or taking in a game on the television with a couple of beverages.  You don’t have to play golf to enjoy the facility, it’s open and easily accessible for everybody.”

 

Taxpayers pay $75.65 annually (based on a $200,000 home) to support the BCC. That equates to around $6.30 a month.

 

For the golf course in 2018, the budget levy was set for $225,000 in levy dollars allocated to the golf course — equating to $9 on a home with taxable value of $100,000.  On a home with taxable market value of $200,000 the amount for 2018 would be $22.50 a month.  

 

The BCC has three fulltime employees and 75 part-time/seasonal employees.

 

Pebble Creek has four fulltime staffers and around 46 part-time/seasonal employees.