The Davidson Communiplex enjoyed an outstanding 2013 revenue wise and so, in turn, did the town’s taxpayers who subsidize the building.

Trevor Ouellette, recreation director for the Town of Davidson, said they were able to recover 78 per cent of the Communiplex’s $280,000 worth of expenses last year bringing $220,000 back into Davidson’s coffers. He said the goal is 40 to 50 per cent of revenue recuperation in any given year and in 2013 the town had only budgeted to recover 45 per cent, so the jump to 78 is quite the feat.

Ouellette said Davidson increased minor hockey rates to bring them in line with other towns and established an equal ice rate for the Tractor Bellies, Babes on Blades and Old Timers hockey teams to help create some of this new revenue generation. However, the main new generator of revenue this year was increasing the usage rate of the rink by bringing in more out-of-town events.

“By bringing in outside money it helps us,” said Ouellette, noting skating fees produced $5,000 more in 2013 than forecasted. “It really reduces the taxpayer’s responsibility to subsidize the building. Even though $60,000 still seems like a whole lot, to have $280,000 worth of expenses (and) have the taxpayer responsible for $60,000 versus $150,000, that’s huge. To be honest that’s a pretty good year.”

In addition to the higher skating fees, Ouellette said the rink kitchen brought in over $17,000 more than estimated. This improvement in skating fees and kitchen revenue go hand in hand and has to do with having a plan and system in place to welcome outside managers into Davidson, help them with putting on a tournament and have the resources available to pull it off.

“We can say, ‘here is what you need, this is what has been done in the past (and) we have this and this and this. We have an excellent volunteer base that can help out in the kitchen, so we can make sure you guys get food.’ The community makes my job a little easier by (being able to say) I can provide these services.”

Streamlining costs and improving the usage of the rink has been a priority for Ouellette since he was hired as Davidson’s recreation director in 2011. This focus has resulted in the taxpayer’s cost of subsidizing the Communiplex going from $143,000 in the first year he took the job to $68,000 a year later and finally $60,000 in 2013.

To read more please see the May 5 print edition of The Davidson Leader.