By Betsy Finklea
The City of Dillon Wellness Center was discussed at the Dillon City Council meeting on Monday, July 14th.
No concrete prices have been received on the equipment that needs to be replaced. The goal is to have it ready by the start of school in September.
Mayor Todd Davis said revenues were about spot on at $280,449. Revenues were projected at $363,269. This includes $80,719 in reserve funds from the two percent hospitality (hot meals) tax. It was noted that the two percent hospitality money took in more than anticipated.
Expenses were $55,494.83 more than budgeted. Some of these additional expenses were for the sound system, spin bikes, planting of bushes and trees, etc.
Davis said the dilemma was that they were $55,000 over in expenses and $82,000 short in revenue.
There is a 20-year bond on the Wellness Center. The first payment was in December 2005.
Davis said the challenge was to keep the rates so the people who want to be a member can and to keep the place updated.
Davis said the only place they could take from is salaries. City Manager Glen Wagner said most of these were part-time. There are three full-time salaries at the Wellness Center. Wagner also commented that electricity and gas came in higher than anticipated.
Davis listed several events that occurred at the Wellness Center including the Health Fair, Holiday Goodness, the Father-Daughter Dance, Summer Day Camp, Breakfast With Santa, basketball, etc. He said while there is a cost to operate the Wellness Center, there are a lot of things they have that you can’t put a price on.
Councilman John Braddy said the hot meals tax, which helps fund the Wellness Center, is mostly paid by tourists. Councilman Johnny Eller said he totally disagreed with this.
Instructors and personal trainers were also discussed. Wagner said they paid the teachers a total of $16,000, but only brought in $15,000 for classes. Personal trainers are charged $50 a month. Wagner said this is a contractual arrangement for the personal trainers to provide a service. He said they pay no taxes, benefits, etc. on the personal trainers. He said he was open to another solution.