Villagers told members of the Amenity Authority Committee on Wednesday morning that the Recreation News has gotten too expensive and too many copies wind up in the trash.
Residents were stunned to learn that the AAC was budgeting a 73 percent increase for Recreation News, which is inserted weekly in The Villages Daily Sun and made available to residents at no cost at recreation centers throughout The Villages.
The AAC’s share for the costs of producing the Recreation News will climb to $364,640 for 2017-18, an increase of $153,680. The Sumter Landing Community Development District’s share of the cost of the weekly printing and distribution of Recreation News will climb from $338,540 to $616,860.
Villager Terry Wilson, who worked for the Recreation Department for a decade, suggested recreation supervisors start tracking how many copies of Recreation News go into the trash each week.
He also cited his experience in business and with the Recreation Department and said he was going to start compiling a list of suggestions for improved efficiences.
Cheryl Coco of the Village of Tierra Del Sol South suggested that in a modern age, residents could access the information, as needed, online. She wondered out loud why the publication could not be eliminated.
“Staff is reviewing some alternatives,” said Budget Director Barbara Kays.
The AAC will likely hold an upcoming workshop to discuss the spike in the cost of Recreation News.
AAC Chairman Carl Bell, well known for his love of technology, suggested that his fellow members begin thinking about the future of the Recreation News.
“Maybe we put a touch screen at a recreation center as an experiment,” Bell said.
