Cheyenne Little League working to pay off hefty debt

North Las Vegas city officials said they're unclear how one Little League managed to amass roughly $40,000 in debt for unpaid field usage and lighting costs.

Cheyenne Little League did not pay the city for a year and a half of field usage. Documents obtained by View Neighborhood Newspapers show the league owes $5,550 for the spring 2009 season, $10,085 for fall 2009 and $20,615 for the spring and fall 2010 seasons.

Parks and recreation director Mike Henley said league officials have begun paying down the debt. At one time, the league owed $39,367. The current balance owed is $35,367.

"When we first became aware, we separated out the debt they owed us from the current year so the kids could have a season," Henley said. "The current year is paid; it's what's in the rear. We're trying to figure out a way that's as painless as possible, but they've torn a chunk off from that already."

He said he wasn't sure how the league's lack of payment went unnoticed by city officials.

"It's difficult to get our arms around," Henley said. "We're trying to get a handle on that."

The league is making current and back payments simultaneously to use city fields for practices, which began this month. The city charges nonprofits $5 per hour for field usage and $10 per hour for lighted fields. The league uses fields at Goynes, Seastrand and Aviary parks.

About $4,000 has been repaid so far, according to both city and league officials.

The majority of the league's expenses, accounting for more than 60 percent, come from three categories: equipment and uniforms, field and lights, and umpires . The annual budget for last fiscal year was $150,000.

Last year, the Internal Revenue Service was ready to garnish about $19,000 from the league for failing to file tax returns the three previous years. As a nonprofit, the league does not owe taxes but must file or face financial penalties. The league has since filed its taxes and wrote letters to the IRS explaining "the procedures put into place to hopefully prevent this in the future." The IRS forgave all penalties.

Prima Weber served as league secretary from fall 2009 to spring 2010. Her husband, Brian, was president. IRS notices about filing taxes weren't being sent to the league because the mailing address was incorrect, she said.

During that time, tax issues were being dealt with by the league's treasurer, and Weber said she was told the matter was being handled.

She added that minutes she took for meetings indicate the taxes would be filed and another set of minutes include follow-up comments.

"I'm shocked -- what do you mean they've never been filed?" Weber said of her reaction to finding out that taxes hadn't been filed. "We never got anything, no letters mailed to us. We got letters a year and a half after the fact."

Brian Weber did not respond to interview requests.

Mike Mullis, who has previously served as a league president and is a current board member, said the league is not disputing the bill. Poor bookkeeping, a high number of kids who were allowed to play for free in previous seasons and high employee turnover in the parks and recreation department all played a contributing factor, he added.

Mullis blogged about the league's finances in April.

"Where did the money go that should have been set aside to pay these field usage/light fees?" he wrote. "I cannot answer that, other than to say we didn't have the money in the accounts when I took over and the bills had not been paid."

The league pays for the previous season's field usage when collecting current registration fees from players.

Mayor Shari Buck sponsors a team every year, and Councilwoman Anita Wood's son plays in the league, Mullis said. He added that council members never offered to waive the bill.

Mullis said he called Buck once during tournament play when he had "screwed up" his schedule, and park lights weren't turned on for a game. He initially called the city to have someone dispatched to turn the lights on. He then called Buck, who said she would see what she could do. Meanwhile, the parks official called back and said someone was being sent out . Mullis added he wasn't sure whether his call or Buck's call prompted officials to turn on the lights.

"…We certainly should not have had as large a balance as we did with (the city)," Mullis wrote. "We have looked into this the best we could and welcome anyone with a background in auditing to come in and review our books. I don't know if revenue was just not collected, if sponsorships were down from previous years, or the concession stand just didn't make what it should have."

Contact Downtown and North Las Vegas View reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@viewnews.com or 383-0492.