The membership rolls at the

Peachtree City Tennis Center had leveled off before the controversy surrounding

the facility's finances became front page news last fall, and were

showing a slight decline, managers of the facility say.

But changes in the fee structure

and court policies proposed by the Peachtree City Tourism Association

are intended to win back players who've fallen by the wayside.

Head Pro Sean Ferriera, who

has managed the Tennis Center since Oct. 31, told members of the City

Council and others Monday night that there were just three cancelations

of memberships in December, and all of those were junior memberships.

The public/private athletic club maintains around 600 members regularly.

Last week, the Tourism Association

board agreed to a number of changes effective Jan. 19, when the PCTA takes

over operations from the city.

For example, a "walk-on"

rental rate at half the full rate will be offered on the indoor courts

when they are going unused. Also, eight to 10 courts will be made available

for reservations beyond lessons on a regular basis, as opposed to four

now, and at least that many will be reserved for member use when tournaments

and league play are going on.

Also, the fee for non-members

who play in an ALTA League will be lowered, and the one-time application

fee of $300 for any prior member whose membership has not been renewed

will be waived.

Tourism Association Chairman

and Councilman Steve Rapson said the board wanted to send the message

that the tennis center is open to everyone, members and non-members alike.

"We're trying to

apply some real tangible benefits to being a member, not just to keep

the existing members but to get some of those former members back, too,"

said Rapson.

City Manager Bernard McMullen,

who also sits on the tourism board and is largely responsible for steering

the PCTA to this point, said he was surprised the response has been so

positive.

"During this period of

time when the city has been running the venue, we've been surprised

at the number of renewed memberships we've been getting," McMullen

told the council.

Maintaining a healthy membership

roster is important to the bottom line because the $113,814 in membership

fees represents the largest line item of revenue in the tennis center's

2004 budget of $636,015.

Based on "conservative"

estimates and "worst case" financial scenarios, Peachtree City

Finance Director Paul Salvatore said the tennis center can end the year

with $13,837 in the bank, on $622,178 in expenses.

Income from lessons, including

fees from USTA and ALTA teams, together account for $383,038 in projected

revenue through September, while court fees will bring in another $53,214,

according to Salvatore's estimation. Income from hosting tournaments

is projected at $65,949.

And that doesn't consider

tournament sponsorships, which have yet to be factored, or rent from the

operation of the center's pro shop.

Requests for proposals to run

the pro shop were to be opened and considered this week, with a February

opening planned. At that time, another $2,500 in monthly rental income

will start flowing into the tennis center's coffers each month.

Previously, Tennis Center Executive

Director Virgil Christian held the lease to the shop rent-free. Christian

resigned effective Oct. 31, and the Pro Shop has sat vacant since.

Just to be safe, the city will

make available to the PCTA a $100,000 line of credit to be used only in

emergencies.

"I feel confident that

with the budget we have in place, we may not even need that $100,000,"

Rapson said.