Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recreation Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lewiston reviews Recreation and facility budgets; council asks to hold $49,000 parking-garage contracted services
Summary
Recreation staff presented the department budget (administration, armory, senior services, activity programs). Councilors discussed program revenue, a request to set aside $49,000 for future parking-garage contracted services review, and staff reported $114,005.60 in fuel bid savings.
Recreation staff reviewed the department’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at the Lewiston budget workshop on March 1, outlining personnel, contracted services, utilities and program revenue for recreation administration, the armory, senior services and the activity fund.
Nicole Alton identified herself as "Nicole Alton, Recreation Director" and led the presentation of Recreation Administration. She said the department shows an overall increase in personal services driven by step increases and a position approved last fiscal year; contracted services and travel increased for professional development and additional staff. "Personal services increased 17,058, which is for all the salaries due to steps increases along with the new position approved in fiscal year 25," Alton said.
On the armory budget, staff cited salary costs tied to a position approved in fiscal year 25, increased temporary wages tied to aquatics staff transfers, and higher maintenance costs including gym-floor refinishing and HVAC maintenance. Staff said an LCIP (capital improvement) approval could remove the gym-floor refinishing cost from the operating budget.
Senior services showed a small personnel increase for step raises; the senior position remains 30 hours per week, not full time, staff said.
The activity/recreation programs account is a special revenue (enterprise-style) fund, Recreation staff said. With the recommended budget the activity fund was projected to end fiscal year 2025 with a deficit of $57,008.86, and the prior-year fund balance for FY24 stood at $314,048. Staff explained program rates are set internally and that the department solicits donations and runs a scholarship drive; online donation prompts in registration recently generated roughly $2,000.
Councillors raised several questions about revenue and cost offsets. Councillor Nejean asked whether Franklin Pastures rental revenue was recorded in recreation accounts; staff said turf rental fees go into a special turf fund and reported about $19,000 in FY25. Councillor Chittum asked about moving contracted services for five parking garages (totaling $49,000) into the "parking lot" (a temporary holding category for items to be discussed later in general budget talks). Chittum said she would like that $49,000 to be considered in a future discussion; staff offered to place the item on a general budget discussion agenda.
At the end of the workshop Director Roy reported the city opened fuel bids and the bids came in below budgeted amounts, producing an estimated savings of $114,005.60. He said staff would set that amount aside for the council to review during general budget discussions rather than immediately reduce department budgets.
No formal votes were recorded during the recreation presentation; staff and councilors agreed to continue general budget discussions at upcoming scheduled sessions, including a special meeting and general discussion workshops.
Ending: Recreation staff will return for further general-budget discussions; councilors requested placement of the $49,000 parking-garage contracted-services item on a future general discussion agenda, and staff will present LCIP options that may remove some operating costs.
