The Bear Creek Development Authority Board of Directors approved an operating budget for fiscal year 2016-17 in the amount of $722,125 at its January 12, 2017 meeting.
The budget, based on anticipated revenue and expenses, is down $9,000 from the FY 2015-16 anticipated budget and down $26,000 from last year’s actual budget.
BCDA operates with a $25,000 carryover beginning balance fund each year. The largest source of revenue comes from recreation permits, approximately $237,000 last year. Cabin rentals provide the next largest source at $180,000.
Other revenue sources include camping fees; pavilion rental; $41,000 from the Upper Bear Water Grid; and $22,500 from Franklin County Water Authority.
Last year’s budget saw revenue from sales of equipment ($6,366) and a Tennessee Valley Authority payment for the Quarter Creek pier project in the amount of $4,090.
Salaries and benefits comprise the majority of expenses, with $228,000 budgeted for recreation staff salaries and benefits and $206,925 budgeted for general administration and office staff salaries and benefits. Utility expenses are anticipated to be $95,000.
The next largest expenses budgeted include “operation and maintenance of public use areas,” at $35,000; cabin utilities at $20,000; “misc. cabin expenses” at $15,000; and shoreline liability insurance at a cost of $24,000.
The board also elected new officers, with Trisha Montgomery to serve as chairman, Charlene Fancher as vice-chair and Barry Moore as secretary for the next year.
In other action, the board:
•Approved mileage reimbursement for board members to and from meetings at the state mileage rate.
•Approved a cost-of-living raise of $0.50 per employee per hour effective retroactively to October 1, 2016. The expected annual cost of the raise is $8,000.
