The Tipp City Council heard an update on the center and its summer from city Finance Director John Green during council’s Oct. 17 meeting.
The center located in City Park completed its 11th year this summer.
“We did have a very good year this year overall,” Green said.
Dayton Pool Management has run the city-owned aquatic center since its initial year. The city received a lower bid from the company for the next three years when it sought bids before the 2016 season.
This summer was the first of three with a $228,750 operations and maintenance contract. In 2015, the city paid the company $289,843.
Among statistics shared by Green on this year’s center operations:
• Attendance was 25,903, down from 29,634 in 2015
• The center had 17 days of 90-plus degrees compared to eight last year
• Swim lessons increased in 2016 to 192 up from 118 last year
• Twice as many dogs turned out for the dog day (last day of season) at 60, up from 30 the previous year.
The center this year brought in $327,015 and spent $309,322 resulting in $17,693 “to the good,” Green said.
This was the first summer the operation ended in the positive since 2011 when income exceeded expenses by $2,144. Subsidies in the years in between ranged from $52,542 to $108,708.
Green said a major difference this year was the facility being closed on three full and four part days. Last summer, the facility was closed 30 days because of inclement weather.
He also said that low capital expenditures over the years have helped with finances. This year, a $6,950 capital expense was for a new ice cream machine. The year’s maintenance expenses included a spray ground pump motor ($975); pump repairs ($560) and Funbrella replacements costing $815.
Green credited “the attention to detail” during the facility construction to keeping major maintenance expenses low so far. Money is included in each year’s budget for expenses that may arise such as pump replacements.
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