Concerns about the fiscal health of Cameron Park

By Gerald W Lillpop

My ideas to generate revenue without increasing fees or taxes

My concerns about the fiscal health of Cameron Park are based on Board of Directors approved audits:

In fiscal year 2011/2012 our CSD had an operational deficit of $317,744

In fiscal year 2012/2013 our CSD had an operational deficit of $117,000.

In fiscal year 2013/2014 our CSD will again have an operational deficit, the total amount of which has not yet been determined, but is expected to easily exceed $100,000.Part of the reason is the out of control spending by CSD management who spent an alleged $94,000+ on "Consultants" instead of simply filling a senior accountant position.

In this same fiscal year, due to failure by the Board to exercise control and provide direction to CSD management, The Community Center expenses have increased by 5.5% and revenues declined by 6% compared to the 2012/2013 fiscal year.

In fiscal year 2015/2016 the projected operational deficit is $301,226. This is unsustainable.

To stop the declining revenues of the Community Center I have recommended many common sense solutions for increasing revenues without raising fees on the citizens of Cameron Park. I have also identified how the CSD can generate revenues from our other facilities. Some of them are:

Identify and contact all major corporations and fraternal/service organizations with in a twenty mile radius. Find contacts in each and offer softball, basketball, volleyball, and soccer venues, offer the swimming pool or Cameron Park Lake lagoon for swim parties. Offer the Community Center and or lake as an event venue for parties.

Identify and contact all car with in a twenty mile radius and all Jeep clubs in the state. Find Executive officers or event planners in each and offer softball, basketball, volleyball and soccer leagues and our swimming pool or Cameron Park Lake lagoon for swim parties. Offer the Community Center and or Lake as an event venue for fund raising events like pancake breakfasts especially the Jeep clubs before a weekend four wheeling on the Rubicon Trail, offer Community Center for meeting and parties.

Contact all wedding and event planners with in a twenty mile radius; Offer the gazebo at Cameron Park Lake and Community Center as wedding and reception venues.

Contact all sports leagues (softball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, and football) about using our facilities for their regular season about holding tournaments in Cameron Park. Offer the Community Center and Lake as event venues for fund raising events like pancake breakfasts or bbq's at the lake and offer using the lagoon for swimming as an extra inducement.

These are just a few of the good ideas that I and others have presented to the Board of Directors and CSD management. I have not seen any real effort to implement these ideas or any of the great ideas that other citizens suggested that will help turn our fiscal fortunes around and the Board does not seem to mind this.