The Amenity Authority Committee on Wednesday reviewed a budget for 2018-19 that includes a six percent increase for its share of the costs for the production and distribution of Recreation News.
The budgeted amount this year for the AAC’s share of the costs for Recreation News was $221,640. Next year, it is projected to climb to $234,750, according to budget documents.
“We had a very thorough discussion about Recreation News at our preliminary budget workshop,” said Budget Director Barbara Kays.
She noted that efforts to reduce those costs are ongoing. In the first six months of this fiscal year, the AAC has spent $114,559 on Recreation News.
“We will continue to watch those invoices as they come in,” Kays said.
Earlier this year, she projected the total cost for Recreation News for the coming fiscal year will be $702,000. She said areas south of County Road 466 will be assessed $435,000. Areas north of County Road 466 will be assessed $190,000. The remaining 10 percent of Recreation News costs will be paid by the Developer to cover recreation centers in the newest areas of The Villages.
The AAC oversees amenities north of County Road 466. Last year, the AAC was hit with a 73 percent increase in the cost of Recreation News.
Kays pointed out that the District’s “conservative” policy is to budget on the high side for expenses and on the low side for anticipated revenue.
Final approval of the budget is set for in June.
AAC Chairman Carl Bell asked Recreation Director John Rohan about the status of efforts to find a technological alternative to the costly pulp version of Recreation News.
Rohan called it, “A Herculean task.”
You can review the full budget document at the link below. Recreation News is listed under “Printing & Binding.”
