The Ocala City Council on Oct. 21 withdrew a motion and voted to table consideration of a second amendment to the Fort King Tennis Center management agreement that would add a monthly management services fee for the operator. Council members said they needed a clearer financial picture, including additional years of profit-and-loss data and transparency on payroll and other operating expenses, before approving taxpayer-supported payments to a private operator.

Julie Johnson, Recreation and Parks Director, introduced the proposal and noted staff recommended approval. Council members and public commenters questioned why the operator sought a management fee after operating losses, whether membership rates had been raised, and whether the operator’s payroll and lesson revenues were included in the submitted financials.

Councilmember questions centered on missing historical data (the operator provided 2022–2024 and a partial 2025 report; council asked for 2020–2021), whether the operator’s salary was included in payroll figures, and whether internal audit or additional review should occur. Recreation staff said operating costs increased—particularly utilities—and that options if the council denied the fee included allowing the current contract to continue, re-bidding the contract, or the city operating the facility in-house.

Council directed staff to seek additional financial detail from the operator (including 2022–2024 detail already supplied plus optional 2020–2021 material if council wants it), and to have internal audit or procurement staff review records. Councilmember Bethea withdrew his motion to approve and moved to table the item; the motion to table passed on a roll call vote.

Council requested that staff return with a fuller financial package (detailed expense line items, membership counts and fee schedules, payroll detail, and audits or comparisons) before taking further action on a management-fee amendment.