Financial Questions

1. Please provide background on the contested water bills listed on the balance sheet.
2. What caused the large increase in water and sewer expense in 2015?
3. What is included in the $562,955.77 of accrued expenses?
4. What is the expectation of clearing gift cards in a lease agreement?
5. Please provide detail on any long term leases on equipment.
6. What is the dept repayment schedule on long-term debt?
7. Is the $200,000 current contribution satisfying lease and long-term debt payments?
8. What maintenance has been deferred as referenced on page 7?

Operational Questions

1. Please provide a breakdown at each facility for all programming, memberships, and special promotions.
2. In reference to loyalty - what are Award Points and do they expire?
3. Do they have any analysis on return on marking investment?
4. What is the annual food and beverage revenue at each facility in 2013 and 2014?
5. Please provide organizational charts/structure at each facility, noting salaried and hourly staff.
6. Please provide a list of equipment that is on site at each facility - year, make, and model.
7. Are there any known infrastructure/capital needs at any facility? Ex: new roof, irrigation, systems, HVAC, etc.

Other Questions

1. Would a private lessee be subject to property tax? How will the property be assessed?
2. Would a private lessee be subject to Admissions and Amusement Tax?
3. How would the disposition of the Baltimore Municipal Golf Corporation's (BMGC's) assets be handled?
4. Can you provide a list of maintence equipment owned and leased by the BMGC?
5. Can you provide a list of food and beverage equipment, including separate lists of equipment owned by BMGC and equipment owned by its lessee at Forest Park?

Financial Questions

1. Please provide background on the contested water bills listed on the balance sheet.

The contested water bills have been an issue for quite some time, and a significant portion stems from sewer charges on the irrigation water at Carroll Park. We have recorded all of our water bills and associated payments in a separate database from 2006 to the present; there seems to be no consistency among many of the accounts, with wild deviations in the amount of water usage that make little to no seasonal sense. Definitely an issue our auditors would like to see resolved with the water and wastewater utility. 

2. What caused the large increase in water and sewer expense in 2015?

The audited financial statements corrected an error in the water and sewer expenses for 2015. The correct amount of accrued water and sewer expense as a contested water bill is $260,393. The correct amount of water and sewer expense is $196,131.28. 

3. What is included in the $562,955.77 of accrued expenses?

The correct amount of Accrued Expenses - Other is $316,068.66 is for utilities, credit card fees, and miscellaneous expenses. A link to the Audited Financial Statements can be found in the RFS FAQs section. 

4. What is the expectation of clearing gift cards in a lease agreement?

It is unclear how the gift card balances will be addressed. 

5. Please provide detail on any long term leases on equipment.

See answer to #6 below.

​6. What is the dept repayment schedule on long-term debt?

Below is a schedule for the balances due on liabilities:

7. Is the $200,000 current contribution satisfying lease and long-term debt payments?

The current contribution of $200,000 to the city does not include any long term debt. It only satisfies the lease. 

8. What maintenance has been deferred as referenced on page 7?

The deferred maintenance issues referred to on page 7 of the RFS should become obvious during the golf course tours, and is mainly associated with the lack of capital that has not been reinvested in the facilities. Cart paths and parking lots, tee leveling, equipment replacement, irrigation upgrades etc. 

Operational Questions

1. Please provide a breakdown at each facility for all programming, memberships, and special promotions.

We have no memberships; programming can be located on our website. We conduct e-mail promotions throughout the year, i.e. defector programs, holiday promotions, etc. 

2. In reference to loyalty - what are Award Points and do they expire?

BMGC PlayerCard Holders earn awards points on the purchase of food and beverage items (5%), redeemable on any purchase, and expire yearly on December 31. The same is true at the Driving Range, although those points earned on the purchase of range balls can only be redeemed at the Driving Range. 

3. Do they have any analysis on return on marking investment?

Analysis on return on marketing investments is available here.

4. What is the annual food and beverage revenue at each facility in 2013 and 2014?

The Food and Beverage Revenue for 2013 and 2014 was not tracked independently. The net Food and Beverage income for the Corporation was $68,273 in 2013 and $78,657 in 2014. 

5. Please provide organizational charts/structure at each facility, noting salaried and hourly staff.

Organizational chart is available here.

6. Please provide a list of equipment that is on site at each facility - year, make, and model.

A partial list covering equipment acquired during the past ten years is available here. 

7. Are there any known infrastructure/capital needs at any facility? Ex: new roof, irrigation, systems, HVAC, etc.

The answer is the same as item #7 under the financial section. 

Other Questions 

1. Would a private lessee be subject to property tax? How will the property be assessed?

According to an official at the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, a golf course concession on park property is exempt from property tax under state law.  The City Law Department is seeking verification from the State Attorney General.  If it turns out that lessees would be subject to property tax, the City is prepared to negotiate a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement.  For purposes of proposals, assume no property tax liability.

2. Would a private lessee be subject to Admissions and Amusement Tax?

Yes.  Proposers should assume a 10% tax on green fees.  This is a City general Fund revenue source.

3. How would the disposition of the Baltimore Municipal Golf Corporation's (BMGC's) assets be handled?

Upon termination of BMGC’s lease, BMGC’s assets (including equipment) would be turned over to the City. 

4. Can you provide a list of maintence equipment owned and leased by the BMGC?

Lists of maintenance equipment are available here and here.

5. Can you provide a list of food and beverage equipment, including separate lists of equipment owned by BMGC and equipment owned by its lessee at Forest Park?

A list is available here.