Voluntary Contributions to OGC Now Favored

A spirited two hour discussion between the OVA Board and OVA members on the subject of the Oakmont golf courses was held in the Berger Center on Tuesday, October 2nd at the first Board Workshop since July of 2017.

In introducing the topic, Board VP Tom Kendrick said that the board has ruled out any direct subsidy from OVA member dues to the Oakmont Golf Club (OGC).  Some of the ideas that are being explored are a property transfer from OGC to OVA, cost sharing with the golf course for Oakmont Village flood control, OGC providing maintenance services to OVA, and various options for paid OGC memberships.

He also referred to the recently formed Joint OVA/OGC Committee that is tasked with reviewing finances, options and opportunities as well as developing recommendations and a five-year overall projection.  This committee includes three members of the OVA Finance Committee and two members of the OGC board.

Kendrick said that the email he receives runs heavily in favor of supporting the golf club. Yet he feels that support should be voluntary.  “I don’t understand why people believe that the only way for that to happen is to launder the money through OVA’s books.  That to me makes absolutely no sense.  I think that there is an opportunity for OGC to reach out to OVA members and say, ‘We’d like help, would you like to help us?’  Not unlike what public TV and public radio do, they reach out.  They don’t send you a bill.  They say, ‘If you are taking advantage and enjoying the services, help us out.’  Not everybody does and not everybody would.”

An OVA member proposed a referendum to gauge support in the community.  If a majority approved of financial support to OGC he suggested a voluntary opt-in arrangement for contributions earmarked to maintaining the green space.

Other members said the opt-in idea would not work because of regular turnover in the community and the inability of OGC to plan on consistent funding.

There were further suggestions that OGC use GoFundMe or other methods of contribution to raise money on a voluntary basis.

Several speakers were concerned about the legality of OVA contributing to a for-profit entity for drainage cost-sharing, services or land purchases.  Since OGC property is held as collateral for at least two loans, the question was raised whether such a purchase of land could be achieved.

Director Greg Goodwin voiced his concerns regarding the possible consequences for OVA’s tax-exempt status of donating to or subsidizing a for-profit entity such as OGC.

However, aside from the ideas still being discussed for a direct cash infusion from OVA to OGC (land purchase, cost sharing, services, etc.), it now appears that voluntary contributions are favored over mandatory dues assessments.

As one OVA member pointed out near the end of the workshop: “I think that if the community truly does support OGC, and many people have said how overwhelmingly the support is here, then an opt-in mechanism should work.  If it doesn’t work then that support is rather empty.”