Скачать или смотреть Prichard's Golf Course Loses Half a Million in Tax Dollars

PRICHARD, Ala. (WPMI) The City of Prichard is losing hundreds of thousands of tax dollars each year. Records show it is all because of the city's golf course. Over the last six years, the city lost more than a half a million dollars.

Nestled in a neighborhood sits the City of Prichard's High Pointe Golf Club. The nine hole course stretches about 143 acres. Buddy Vanfosson comes to golf with his grandson every other week.

"It needs a lot of work, but golf is golf," said Vanfosson, "It's better when you play on a nice manicured course, but it is what it is."

Despite some maintenance issues, Vanfosson and other golfers, drive, chip, and putt their way around the course.

"I shoot my lowest scores in my life out here and that kind of keeps me coming," said John Deaigle.

When it comes to the golf course's revenue, it is not a profitable property.

"The golf course is not making any money for the City of Prichard," said councilwoman Severia Campbell-Morris. In the eyes of Campbell-Morris, the property is a liability to the city. "You don't want to keep something and we've been losing money on this golf course for at least about 3 to 5 years," said Campbell-Morris.

Records Local 15 News obtained show the city has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last six years. In the 2009 fiscal year, records show the city spent $189,477 on items like salaries, contracts, supplies and materials and only generated $83,246 in revenue.

That's a loss: $106,231. In 2010, High Pointe spent $148,702. It brought in $48,537. That's a loss of more than $100,000. In 2011, the city spent almost $152,000. The revenue was $39,121 losing nearly $113,000. In 2012, the city spent approximately $171,000 and made $29,586.

Records show the city lost $141,653 in 2012. The same trend continued in 2013 with a loss of $110,490.

For the 2014 fiscal year, records show the golf course lost $89,845. Over the last six years, the City of Prichard has lost more than $661,000.

"It angers me," said Prichard resident Paulette Walker.

Walker lives near the golf course.

"To me I really think they should close it down," said Walker, "That's how I feel about it."

Records show the city has spent more than $920,000 for the golf course over the last six years and has only made $261,939. Local 15 News spoke to Philip Stiell, Mayor Troy Ephriam's Chief of Staff, to discuss the numbers.

Local 15 News reporter Modupe Idowu asked, "Why do you think it took so long to say 'ok, alright maybe we need to re-budget, restructure to see what to do with this property seeing it lost so much money over the last 6 years?'"

Stiell said, "I can't speak to that. I wasn't around at that time."

Mayor Troy Ephriam was around.

"He was and was part of those deliberations as well as other members of the council," said Stiell.

Local 15 News requested an interview with Mayor Troy Ephriam. He initially agreed to speak to Local 15 news, but later sent Stiell to do the interview. Stiell joined the city within the last couple months.

"I can say with a great deal of certainty there are reasons to keep it, reasons to not keep it," said Stiell.

Local 15's Modupe Idowu asked, "Do you think the City of Prichard can use $600,000 dollars for something else?"

"There's always alternative uses for whatever funds we expend any way," said Stiell.

Local 15 News requested the city's financial statements for the last five years and has not yet received them. Stiell said, "It's no secret that we're strapped for cash."

It is why Councilman Lorenzo