Non-resident green fees for playing 18 holes at the Manteca Golf Course may increase by $1 starting July 1.

The Manteca City Council on Tuesday will consider upping the weekday fee to $22 and the weekend fee to $29. The council meets at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St.

The fee increases are expected to increase revenue by $7,000 a year.

In the last two fiscal years, the city’s annual revenue from the golf course has declined by $36,050, The council increased 14 play/pass categories that went into effect Nov. 1, 2015. That has increased revenue by $5,000. The city pockets 90 percent of the green fees with golf pro Alan Thomas receives 10 percent for operating the course.

The golf fund — established as an enterprise account meaning it is supposed to stand on its own and not be subsidized by general fund money — in the past has been at the center of major political squabbles in Manteca.

The promise was the golf course would be essentially self-sufficient once two loans were paid. 

Five years ago the final $175,000 annual payment was made on a lease-purchase arrangement to build the golf course clubhouse in the early 1990s. 

Manteca took out a 25-year loan in 1978 to convert the old wastewater treatment plant to expand the golf course to 18 holes and built the tennis courts along Union Road.

The last payment was made in 2013 to free the golf course of a $52,000 a year obligation.  

After the payments ended golf play hit slight plateau. Even more daunting from a financial perspective are identified reconstruction and maintenance needed to keep the golf course viable.

The general administration and overhead charges that were suspended starting on July 1, 2007 are still not being assessed to the golf course.  

Critics in the past past have argued the blanket 20 percent cost recovery fee the city sought to impose on all enterprise accounts such as golf, water, sewer, and garbage collection was arbitrary and inflated and had the effect of staff expenses being paid for twice.

The budget for the golf course also includes $155,000 from the general fund to pay for the recreational benefit of the facility. The money has been designated in the past to pay for free youth play by high school students and reduced green fees for Manteca senior citizens. The only Manteca recreation facility that isn’t receiving an operating or maintenance subsidy from the general fund is the Big League Dreams sports complex.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com