It’s been a better year for the Brian Bent Memorial Aquatic Complex – revenues are up and costs are down, but the center is still in the red.
Here's a look at the numbers:
- The complex's $473,000 in expenses still far outpace its $271,000 in revenues.
- The costs of running the facility dropped by 6.7 percent.
- Savings have been found by reducing staffing 4.3 percent.
- There was a 6.5 percent drop in utility spending.
The number of swim clubs contracting to use the pool is up, generating 23% more income than last year, Fisher-Fernan said, and private lessons are also up: This month 200 people took lessons at the pool.
The inclusion of the Coronado Navy Swim Association (CNSA) has been a boon as well. It boosted weekly income, and swim meets and events hosted by BBMAC brought in more money.
“They’re with us for the long-haul,” Fisher-Fernan said.
The association uses the pool all year except for winter. Then they move to the community pool so out-of-town clubs can use BBMAC. Winter rentals are important.
The pool earns twice as much money from these groups as it does from locals. The best times have already been taken for next year.
“People calling say, ‘Are those the only times you have?’” the director said.
She cautioned that last year’s accounts look better because the pool had $40,000 left over from the BBMAC Foundation.
“That made our deficit smaller,” she said.
A group of residents lobbied for the pool and promised to support it, but backed out; $40,000 was all the foundation had when it turned the pool over to the school district last year.
To make up the deficit, the district began charging everyone, including the middle school and high school, for pool use. Officials looked for ways to cut costs and launched a marketing campaign to persuade out-of-town groups to train at the complex.
Over $20,000 was raised from aquatics physical education, and $52,000 from club contracts, Fisher-Fernan said in her report. Other money came from a variety of sources, including private lessons.
The marketing campaign is still a work in progress, she said, adding that she promoted the pool at the recent American Swimming Coaches Association meeting in Mission Valley. “The response to our booth was better” than to the magazine ads the district has taken out, she said.
This version has been updated to reflect a clarification about who lobbied for the pool.
