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Video: Golf Fee Blasted
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Budget & Finance Committee member Cliff Andersen and others on the committee expressed great concern about the OPA Board decision to increase the family golf fee to $2400, $400 more than recommended by the General Manager and staff, and $600 over the $1800 fee recommended by the golf consultant.

According to Andersen, the projected loss in individual memberships of 20% and 10% loss in family memberships may be much too conservative. Andersen said the budget estimate of projected golf losses for fiscal 2007/2008 could be $100,000 or more higher. Andersen and others stressed there was no advantage to being a family member, and said Ocean Pines golfers could obtain memberships in another local course for half the cost of playing at Ocean Pines. Andersen accused the OPA Board of having "an attitude."

Meantime Controller Art Carmine called the family member fee increase "...just a small, slight change" by the board.

The budget also said the Ocean Pines Golf Governors had accepted the fee schedule and other aspects of the golf plan as submitted with the budget. However, it isn't clear at this time as to whether the Governors ever formally met and approved the board increased family fee after the board increased it above what was originally recommended by the General Manager and staff.

This 20-minute video segment is from the Budget and Finance Committee meeting on 1/2/2007 to review the General Manager's proposed budget for the coming fiscal year.