CA on budget for first quarter of FY09

Columbia Association ended the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2009 on July 31. CA expects to finish the fiscal year with an increase in net assets of nearly $3.3 million. Total revenue is anticipated at $59.2 million, essentially on budget. Operating expenses are anticipated at $51.2 million.

Administrative Services

Administrative Services has been busy testing the new Customer Service System. ITC specialists visited Columbia, and significant progress was made narrowing the gap between CA's functional requirements and the original specification document; analyzing and testing core functional requirements; designing the web application; and planning for the conversion.

The IT Department implemented new security software on CA's network. IT team members also implemented new firewalls and mapped this new security for monitoring. The department provided Internet connectivity to Community Services programs outside of headquarters; upgraded computer labs at Columbia Gym, Supreme Sports Club and Columbia Teen Center; and released three web sites for internal communication.

The division also participated in annual independent audits by Clifton Gunderson, LLP. Unqualified opinions were issued for CA's financial statements and the Incentive Savings Plan.

Communications & Marketing

Sales of Package Plan memberships exceeded last year's actual by 113 units and were 13 units less than budget. This success was primarily due to the print, direct mail and web campaigns, the offers advertised and the value of programs and services. Aggressive marketing against competition continues to be successful.

Several events also saw increased participation due to increased communications in print, web and village outlets. Lakefront Wednesdays offered live concerts over eight weeks and was attended by more than 500 people. KidsDay was a huge success with more than 400 participants.

An enhanced CA web site was launched at www.ColumbiaAssociation.org this quarter with improved aesthetics and navigation, plus Google search capability.

Other division programs include CA Points, "Columbia Matters" TV show, CA Monthly newsletter and CA Activities Guide.

Community Services

Community Services finished the quarter $152,000 ahead of budget. The variance is primarily due to $75,000 savings in allocations and small savings from each department throughout expense lines.

Some of the most popular events of Lakefront Summer Festival were Teen Tuesdays, which have averaged 300 teens per event; and movie nights, which attracted 400 participants per showing.

Enrollment in CA's 24 camps was 3,260. More than 85 youngsters attended camps thanks to the income-qualified program, at a subsidy of about $56,000. School Age Services saw increased enrollment, and KidSpace, continuing with increased usage, averaged 9,000 visits per month.

Other programs include Sister Cities, Columbia International Day, Columbia Archives, Columbia Art Center, Volunteer Center Serving Howard County and Columbia Teen Center. The division also provided more than $1.1 million to village associations.

Open Space Management

Open Space completed the first quarter of the fiscal year better than the budget in total operating expenses by $264,000 and with a decrease in net assets of nearly $2.9 million. This represents a favorable variance of $552,000 from budget. Most departments in the division had total operating expenses less than the budget through the quarter.

Close-to-normal weather conditions and timing variances for major projects helped to keep costs down through this typically busy period.

The current estimate shows that by year's end, a total of $13.6 million of annual charge revenue will be required to protect and maintain the environmental assets of Columbia, which include more than 3,500 acres of open space, 93.5 miles of pathways, 167 tot lots, three lakes and 41 ponds.

Sport & Fitness

Swansfield Mini WaterPark opened on Memorial Day weekend with a new SplashPad, bathhouse and landscaping. More than 37,000 members and guests visited Swansfield this summer — 15,000 more visits than last summer.

Participation in tennis leagues reached an all-time high this summer. More than 1,500 members participated in leagues at CA's four tennis clubs.

Both Hobbit's Glen and Fairway Hills golf clubs have been in excellent condition. The Bermuda grass fairways and the new greens have fully matured and created optimum playing conditions.

Sport & Fitness is projected to end the year with a positive net-from-operation of $295,000, which is $74,000 greater than budget. This is a result of most of the fitness facilities being projected to exceed budget at year end.

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