Oro Valley plans to spend $8.4 million next fiscal year to get started on its project to turn a run-down country club into a recreation center.
The Town Council on Wednesday heard about the $120 million draft budget for next fiscal year, including a spending plan for the rec center.
Town Manager Greg Caton said the town likely will close on the deal to buy El Conquistador Country Club’s buildings and golf courses for $1 million next week.
The draft budget includes $300,000 for the first of three payments on the purchase, plus $1.1 million on projects including painting, flooring, roofing, and improved access for disabled people, he said.
The 1980s facilities need about $5.5 million in renovations over five years, and at least $4 million beyond that, town projections show.
It will cost $6.5 million to operate the facility and $462,500 for 13 full-time- equivalent employees to staff the center next fiscal year, the draft budget shows.
The money for the rec center purchase, projects and operations comes from a combination of funds, including $2 million in dedicated sales tax revenue from a half-cent-per-dollar tax approved by the council in December, income from operations and user fees.
The town also will use some general-fund money from the current fiscal year, which must be repaid over 10 years. Next fiscal year’s budget includes $120,000 as the first payment on the repayment plan, said town Finance Director Stacey Lemos.
The controversial project has been the subject of a petition drive that is now in Arizona Supreme Court and has made Mayor Satish Hiremath and three council members the targets of a recall campaign.
MORE PARKS PROJECTS IN BUDGET
The draft budget also includes $52,300 for a culture festival and a concert series, and $75,000 for the new Oro Valley Children’s Museum, which opens May 1.
Additional projects to improve parks include:
- $475,000 for stabilizing historic buildings and improving drainage at Steam Pump Ranch.
- $200,000 for lights at the Aquatic Center’s new parking lot.
- $55,000 to improve the archery range and add a ramada at Naranja Park.
- $50,000 for wintertime grass over-seeding at the fields at Riverfront Park and Naranja Park.
- $15,000 for trail signs at Honeybee Canyon Park.
- $10,000 to help Tohono Chul Park design an outdoor performance venue.
The Town Council will get more detailed budget information about the parks and recreation projects at its April 22 study session, and about the recreation center at its April 29 study session.
Tentative budget adoption and a public hearing are planned for May 20. The final public hearing and the council’s vote on the budget are planned for June 3.
