Yorba Linda's city-owned Black Gold Golf Club posts record revenues ahead of 25th anniversary

Yorba Linda's city-owned Black Gold Golf Club – now just a year shy of its 25^th anniversary – posted the highest total income in the club's history for the fiscal year that ended June 30.

Revenues from operations at the 219-acre facility, including golf fees and food and beverage sales, topped $11 million, noted a report prepared for the City Council this month by General Manager Rich Cessna from KemperSports, which runs the club for the city.

Expenses totaled $10.3 million for the year, including an annual $250,000 loan repayment to the city. The $714,774 net income will be divided between the club capital reserve fund ($509,703) and needed heating, ventilation and air conditioning repairs ($205,071).

Replacement of the HVAC system was completed in 2021, but, Cessna said, the new system has not been functioning properly the past few years. After review, “it was determined that the duct system is not working efficiently and needs to be replaced.”

A repair estimate from a mechanical engineer proved to be too low, and the lowest bid for replacement received was $178,323. With a 15% contingency, the total $205,071 needed will come from last year's net income, according to Cessna's report.

“Without completing this work, the HVAC system will continue to function incorrectly and impact (food and beverage) operations, especially banquets, due to the inability to cool the facility on hot days,” Cessna reported to council members.

The $509,703 transfer to the reserve fund brings the fund's total to about $1.8 million. Other totals: A 1% increase in golf rounds to 63,332; a bit over $5.7 million in green fees; $91 in average dollars per round, up from $86; and more than $1 million in tournament revenues.

Also, a solar canopy project has closed the driving range and a portion of the parking lot, and a $2.5 million storm drain repair project near the 10^th hole has been approved by the council.

The course and clubhouse “will require significant repairs and upgrades in the future,” Cessna said. He cited plumbing needs and noted that potential projects “could include expansion and improvements to the restaurant patio and upgrades to the driving range to add ball flight trackers and lounge areas.

Notably, Black Gold has won Best Golf Course by Orange County Register voting for the past three years. And the course is the host facility for the boys and girls golf teams at Yorba Linda, Esperanza, El Dorado and Orange Lutheran high schools and Cal State University, Fullerton.

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The Hills for Everyone and Protect Our Homes and Hills groups are sponsoring a Fire Safe Council. The groups are hosting a Zoom meeting on Oct. 30 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Visit either group's website for information.

Ten-year funding exists to create the council and develop a Community Wildfire Protection Plan through a settlement with past owners of the Cielo Vista development.

Placentia-Yorba Linda school district expects less revenue, fewer expenses, greater gap between income and expenses this year; officer honored with 91 Freeway signage

 Less revenue, fewer expenditures and a greater gap between income and expenses by the end of the current fiscal year over last year's figures are expected by Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District trustees, according to two documents presented at recent meetings.

Revenues are projected to drop 7.4%, as expenditures are predicted to dip 2.2% by June 30, 2026, over the amounts recorded on June 30 this year. The spread of expenses over income is expected to grow about $24.1 million during the same time period.

One document, the “Unaudited Actuals Financial Report,” for the fiscal year that ended June 30 was approved by a unanimous trustee vote Sept. 9. State law requires the report be filed with the Orange County Department of Education by Sept. 15 each year.

The second document is the district's budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2025, and ends June 30, 2026. After meeting several state-mandated steps, including a public hearing, the budget was adopted at a summer meeting on a unanimous vote.

Here are the (rounded) numbers: Revenue is expected to drop from $384.7 million last year to $356.2 million this year, while expenditures will dip from $403.3 million to $394.4 million. The gap of expenses over income, $18.6 million last year, is expected to be $42.7 million this year.

Most state funding for schools is based on average daily attendance or ADA, a figure that has been declining for several years in the district. Last year's ADA was 20,766, which is expected to drop to 20,588 this year. Projections for the following two years are 20,428 and 20,268.

This year's total enrollment for the district's 34 campuses in Yorba Linda, Placentia, Fullerton and Anaheim is projected at 21,777, with estimates for the following two years at 21,608 and 21,438.

A minor portion of a school district's funding comes from revenue from the state lottery, with the amount received by each district based on ADA. The Placentia-Yorba Linda district's portion of ticket sales last year was $6.6 million, which is projected to drop to $5.9 million this year.

Federal government funding also comprises a small portion of a school district's budget. This year, the Placentia-Yorba Linda district expects $10.1 million in federal dollars, 4.2% less than last year. Most of the district's budget, about 80.1%, goes to employee salaries and benefits.

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On May 22, 1996, when Brea police served Yorba Linda, Officer Terry Lee Fincher was searching for evidence in an assault case near Esperanza Road and Hickory Drive. He apparently didn't hear the train that stuck and killed him, despite yells from a fellow officer.

Now, 30 years later, signage designating a portion of the 91 Freeway as “Brea Police Detective Terry Lee Fincher Memorial Highway” has been installed at the Yorba Linda Boulevard and Gypson Canyon exits to recognize the 16-year Brea police and Vietnam veteran.