by Jan Ek
Financial Report:
We have ended April 2015 within our operating and capital budget. All divisions, excluding golf, have met their operating and expense goals. The golf division will, however, be receiving a credit for the settlement of an insurance claim which will recapture some of the unexpected expenses that have occurred this year. Due to the weather early in the year, we are $28k under budget in golf revenue year to date. The management team has been working on a succession plan as it is vital that the organization have a plan for their key personnel when it comes to training and replacement to provide protection in the event of a sudden change. This succession planning has made us aware of some significant holes and has created some beginning changes in our structure to provide additional security for the corporation.
Cardholder Services:
Payments on past due assessments were down in April with overall past due assessments increasing in April by almost 3.5%. March billings went past due at a rate of 4.4% and February balances went 60 days past due at a rate of 3.1%. With March being the largest billing month for the year, even with this being the lowest rate for March balances, it results in a greater overall increase this past month. Historically the March through May three month period is the highest growth period for past due balances. We have seen the lowest March increase for the past four years. Year to date payments from our third party collections firm are $40,933.
Total accounts receivable increased in April by nominal percentage. Property transfer related balances decreased by 3% in April and lender owned related balances increased by just 1%. Outstanding balances related to property transfers now represent 50% of all receivables due and past due balances.
Payments made by Cardholders through the online RCSC Web Portal increased in April for the fourth month in a row and totaled $77,012. The online payment process is fully integrated with payments made through the web portal being posted to Cardholder accounts immediately.
The anticipated update to the RCSC Web Portal was rolled out very recently, but had to be unrolled due to some complications. We expect to roll it out again soon and then we will have an opportunity to see the impact on online payments. As noted, the payment process has been simplified by allowing any property owner the ability to pay the balance due on the property. The enhancements to the web portal platform will improve the overall cardholder online experience. In conjunction with the web portal changes RCSC will now be accepting Discover cards for payment at all RCSC locations, as well as online through the web portal.
Trustee sale notices on Sun City properties remained steady again at 46 properties at the end of April. The number of properties owned by lending institutions decreased slightly in April and is now at 35 properties.
Preservation and Improvement Fees collected in April were $717,000, which is $282,000 over the amount budgeted. Year to date PIF fees are $2,363,100 which is $920,100 over budget for the year. Again a reminder that we intentionally budget PIF income very conservatively to assure that we have the cash on hand for any planned project as we remain debt free.
Bowling:
The 27th annual Sun City Open Bowling Tournament was completed on the weekend of May 2nd. This year the tournament had 63 team entries and 256 singles entries. The tournament produced over $5,000 in income over the two weekends. Tournament participants came from all over Arizona and praised the center’s cleanliness and the RCSC staff at the Bowling Centers.
Lane Analytics completed the bowling lane project at both centers. The project included the mapping of all lanes. Lane mapping is a procedure in which the bowling lanes are measured for depressions, crowns and levelness for the entire length and width of the bowling lane. Bowling scores have definitely improved since the project was completed.
Bowling scores were outstanding for the 2014/2015 season, Lakeview Lanes had forty-eight 300 games and Bell Lanes had twenty-seven 300 games. Both RCSC Bowling Centers are among the top scoring centers in the state.
Human Resources:
Hiring has been a priority for Human Resources since the beginning of the year. Usual turnover numbers and the re-opening of Marinette Center had an impact on staffing needs and we have hired fifty one individuals year to date. The majority of the new hires were in the Building and Infrastructure division, with twenty utility workers and eleven facilities attendants; the golf division followed with seven greens workers; and the remainder were dispersed amongst other various departments.
In early May we held 401(k) informational meetings that all RCSC employees were required to attend. As new hires come onboard, they are presented with printed material to bring them up to date and into the process.
Member Services:
There were two final Sun Bowl shows in May. The Coral Paradise Band, a Jimmy Buffett Tribute took the stage as a replacement to the Roy Orbison tribute due to a medical emergency. What an exciting night this turned out to be! Even with a fifteen minute delay for a rain shower, the crowd filled the dance floor for every song. Due to weather, the show had to end a bit early but was enjoyed by all nonetheless.
The final event of the season began with Mother’s Day Brunch on the patio at Lakeview; a beautiful day that started with an elegant setting and wonderful atmosphere for the 150 in attendance. Later that evening we were treated to one of the best dance bands to ever hit the stage and an all time Sun City AZ favorite, The Real Tones! The dance floor was packed song after song and after two encores the band didn’t know what to play next. What a fantastic way to end the season!
Join us Wednesday, June 17th at the Sundial at 7pm as we welcome Heartbeat, southern Arizona’s most popular oldies rock band. Heartbeat plays it all – Rock & Roll, British Invasion, Surfin’ Sound, Motown and all the greatest music from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. This show is free for RCSC Cardholders and their escorted guests only! Be prepared to show your RCSC Member or Privilege card for entry; no key fobs accepted.
We will host the Father’s Day Golf Tournament on Sunday, June 21st at the North Golf Course. This event includes continental breakfast, prizes and more. Check-in begins at 6:00am and breakfast is served at 6:30am with a shotgun at 7:30am. Entry fee is $30 per person and will be limited to 36 teams. Registration forms are available at all RCSC golf pro shops or online at www.suncitygolfing.com. Hawaiian attire is encouraged and there will be an opportunity to win a Hawaiian vacation for a hole-in-one on hole #12.
Beginning this summer, RCSC Cardholders will be required to present either their Member or Privilege Card (with photo) prior to entry at any free, non-ticketed events and all guests must be with the Cardholder at the time of entry.
For details about upcoming events and entertainment please refer to our newsletter the SunViews, our electronic signs, online at www.suncityaz.org under the Recreation Centers and in our weekly email blast titled “Your Sun City AZ Week.” If you are not receiving the SunViews inside a free edition of the Daily News-Sun in your driveway on the last Thursday each month, please contact the newspaper for delivery, or if you prefer, you can always pick one up at any one of our centers. Also, if you have not done so already, please sign up on the RCSC email list where you can designate topics of interest and stay in the loop with RCSC news alert emails!