NORD warns staffing and budget cuts could reduce pool hours, program capacity

Larry Barabino (presenting on behalf of NORD) said NORD used surplus turf from Super Bowl LIX to renovate five baseball stadiums and that those renovations, plus state and bond funds, underwrite several capital projects. "So now today, NORD have 5 state of the art baseball stadiums that's ready for not only NORD's uses, but high school boys and baseball and softball, as well as, collegiate," he said. Barabino also highlighted the department's plans to replace the Joe Brown running track and to add two standalone splash pads at the Cutoff and Velazio/Lehi locations.

Barabino and his staff told council members that NORD's personnel numbers dropped sharply in the 2026 budget proposal. NORD reported 292.36 positions in 2025 and a proposed 215.01 positions for 2026, a change the presentation attributed largely to fewer seasonal lifeguards and to a hiring freeze affecting about 24.6 positions. The department said the proposed budget changes total roughly $2.35 million in reductions across recent years and that a 2026 personnel reduction line-item alone shows $864,761. "This affects what we're doing today, and impacts our aquatics programming," Barabino said, adding that reduced staff could force reductions in rec-center hours and pool openings.

Barabino provided summer 2025 participation data to underline the scale of programs at risk: NORD offered about 2,850 swim lessons and recorded 59,377 pool visits during the summer months of 2025. The department also reported $254,000 in stipends to teens ages 13 to 17 for summer and internship programs and said those stipends support employment and reduce juvenile crime by providing structured opportunities.

On funding, Barabino described a mix of bond funds, CDBG and general-fund contracts. He said some capital work — including track replacement at Joe Brown and other bond-funded projects — remains on track because those projects rely on secured bond or state funds. The presentation listed ongoing contracts that include HVAC, plumbing and pool contractors, sports officials and grass-cutting contracts (H and O) that account for about $560,000 annually.

Council members asked about the Wisner fund allocation that will be considered in an ordinance: a council member reported the draft divides roughly $4.04 million to NORD and about $718,000 to the health department based on programs preapproved for Wisner funding. NORD staff said they had not yet received a final figure from the administration.

Barabino said NORD is implementing an asset-management system with the city to track facilities, maintenance requests and repairs and reiterated a desire to update fee schedules (including possible nonresident fees) to generate more revenue through council action. He also described active grant applications and capital requests — including a $2 million grant application to fund a splash pad at Richard Lee — and said the department will pursue partnerships and private donations through the NORD Foundation.

The presentation concluded without formal votes. Barabino and staff offered to provide more detailed asset and personnel information on request and to continue coordinating with council offices and other departments on capital projects and staffing priorities.