Scottsdale staff outline Parks, Recreation and Preserve operating budgets tied to 0.15 sales tax

The Budget Review Commission on April 10 heard a high-level presentation of the Parks and Recreation and Preserve department’s proposed operating budgets for fiscal year 2025–26, driven by the city’s recently approved 0.15 parks and preserve sales tax and recommendations from the department’s master plan.

Senior Director Nick Molinari told the commission the budget package was shaped by an 18‑month parks and recreation master plan and an operations analysis that examined staffing, equipment deployment and the balance of contracted versus in‑house work. “This past year, we really do approach the fiscal year 25, 26 budget through a position of advantage being that we recently completed the parks and recreation master plan,” Molinari said.

The presentation included division‑level figures and cost drivers. Molinari said the combined department totals include about 249 full‑time equivalent positions; personnel services were listed at about $19.1 million, contractual services $14.4…