State of the Y

RED OAK - When YMCA officials first approached the City regarding an increase in their annual $6,000 funding, they weren't looking for a government bailout.

They were looking for a partner.
“The City needs to take some responsibility for what we provide,” YMCA Board Member Jeanice Lester said. “We do a lot for the City with recreation. When this Y was built, when it came to recreation, there was basically nothing from Red Oak.”
At last week's meeting, Red Oak's City Council agreed to increase their donation to $56,000 a year (see related story), citing the YMCA's operating deficit and the services they provide.
“Because of the YMCA, there are services that the city has not been asked to participate in,” Council Member Larry Brandstetter said. “They provide a service to the community the taxpayers don't have to pay for.”
According to information provided to the Council, the YMCA conducted 56 programs in 2010, which were available to members and non-members alike.
Program participation was as small as 3 people (4-6th grade cross country) to as big as 220 (4th-6th grade boys and girls basketball tournaments).
Board President Mark McCaffrey said before the YMCA, these programs either didn't exist, or were organized by parents.
“Everything was run by parents,” he said. “But it was different then, both parent's didn't have to work like they do today. Without the Y, those programs will just go away.”
But operating those programs, and maintaining the 70,000 square-foot facility, comes at a cost. A cost that keeps increasing.
According to its 2010 profit and loss statement provided to the Red Oak Express, the YMCA was budgeted to lose about $13,000. Then CDS closed its doors, resulting in about 100 fewer members, and an increased deficit of just under $22,000. Factoring in depreciation of the building, the number balloons to an estimated $81,000.
“CDS closing really hit us hard because they subsidized a lot of the membership costs for their employees,” McCaffrey said. “They were great, and paid up to $200 per membership.”
At this time last year, the YMCA's membership was just over 1,000. Now it's about 900.
Since first opening the new facility, the YMCA has finished with a surplus just twice, when membership was more than 1,100.
And while membership decreases, the amount of programs and services offered by the YMCA has increased. Most recently, they agreed to serve as the equipment center for the City's new disc golf course and to coordinate the youth and adult tennis leagues.
McCaffrey said a cost analysis is currently underway on each program the YMCA offers, and some of the more expensive and lesser-used ones may be eliminated. However, he worries about making too many cuts and its affect on the youth of Montgomery County.
“They are going to need that new jail because if they lose the programs, that jail is going to be filled up with kids,” he said.
Other cost-cutting measures already enacted include fewer Sunday hours, a reduction in pool availability and babysitting, weatherization, eliminating a phone line and even turning off half of the lights in a room.
But board members realize they can't go overboard on cutting services.
“You lose your identity, per se, if you close the tennis courts or pool,” Lester said.
The biggest expense though is personnel, which accounts for about half of the YMCA's expenses. When membership was in the 1,110s, the YMCA was staffed with seven full-time employees, compared to five now. The YMCA did recently hire an aquatics director, despite facing a budget shortfall.
However, Zimmer said they have instituted a two-year pay freeze to limit expenses, and that full-time workers and shouldering more responsibilities in order to reduce part-time hours.
Zimmer, whose salary is at $53,000 a year after 17 years on the job, also stated that out of 29 Iowa YMCAs, Red Oak's staff ranks 28th for salary.
Billings mentioned how over the years, the YMCA has evolved into more than just a recreation facility.
“We have blood drivers, and prayer groups, and Thanksgiving dinners,” she said. “Anytime anyone needs a meeting place, they come to the Y. This place has turned into a community center.”
McCaffrey concedes if the facility were constructed today, it would be much smaller. But he adds, that isn't the reality of the situation.
“In this economic environment Red Oak is in, there isn't enough membership to support a facility of this size,” he said. “But it's here and we aren't going to tear it down. It's important and it's a real drawing card for this community.”