MWCD revenue rebounding from COVID-19 impacts

BY JD LONG (jim@harrisonnewsherald.com)

NEW PHILADELPHIA—For the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, net revenue continues to sprout in the black. The August meeting revealed the revenues were nearly $4 million higher compared to last year at this time, according to Chief Financial Officer Jim Crandall.

The figures through July came to just over $9.2 million compared to a little more than the $5.3 million last year. Operational revenue was also positive with $19.3 million, 81% of their budget compared to just 63% last year.

Another item covered by Crandall was interest revenue, which he said pulled in $512,000 or 51% of the budget. He said they were slightly behind for interest revenue, which wasn’t something they had forecast.

Crandall called park revenue “very strong” at 95% of the budget, bringing them to more than $8 million through July. Reports of strong park revenue have been streaming for months, and the report compares very strongly to 2020’s $5.6 million.

“We are really just knocking it out of the park, no pun intended,” he told the board after stating they were at 77% of 2019’s budget. Park camping’s numbers were even stronger at 106% of the budget, with a few warm months still remaining.

“Our July numbers were actually slightly down from the last July,” Crandall explained when asked if this would be a reasonable comparison from year to year. However, he added that last July was a catch-up month and felt some timing issues had now been settled. “There were some changes in seasonal camping payments, so I think that while there could be a little bit of timing with that, this is in large part, we’re just ahead of the game at this point,” Crandall explained.

Marina revenue was also up by 11%, and Crandall noted how both the parks and marina revenues were doing well last year, and it continued into this year. Expenses were 54% of the budget, but he said they are up 6% from last year.

“Again, some of that’s planned. But like we mentioned before, last year we pulled in the reins on some of the capital spending and the hiring of folks due to COVID,” Crandall said. He added that park expenses are also up by 9%, likely because vacation cabins at Pleasant Hill had a whole year, and special events and programs were scheduled, too.

Capital improvements and the Master Plan continue within the budget, and maintenance assessment funds were at $731,000 for July but mostly due to sediment removal. He said yearto-date, it came to 35% of the budget. Crandall said July payment of bills came to $1,344,929, far less than the $3.6 million for July 2020.