Finance committee reviews Jewel Parks construction budget and proposes a project manager in opioid-settlement plan

City Controller Salita Green told the Gary City Finance Committee the administration seeks council approval of CPO 2025-15, which would set salary and operating appropriations for the Gary Park Department construction fund (Jewel Parks) and the health department’s opioid settlement restricted fund for calendar year 2025.

“The revenues that are attached … when the council approved in the general fund, for the Jewel Park's budget to be set in the general fund, it lapsed because property taxes lapse every year,” Green said, explaining the administration’s request to reestablish appropriations in a multiyear park construction fund so those appropriations do not lapse.

Green outlined the Jewel Parks construction fund request as presented to the committee: $5,000 for other materials; $75,000 for professional services; $50,000 for property insurance; $300,000 for contract maintenance; $10,000 for equipment repairs; and $320,529.91 in capital outlay — a total appropriation of $755,529.91. Green also said the department has roughly $600,000 in purchase orders, bringing the total…