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Recreation staff asks board to add coordinator ahead of new recreation center; funding plan tied to tax levy
Summary
Recreation staff told the board the new CERC recreation center opening in late 2025 requires hiring at least one full-time recreation coordinator and clarified plans to fund operations through a designated recreation tax levy and Fund 80 rather than program fees alone.
Recreation staff told the Franklin Board of Education on Feb. 19 that the district needs an entry-level recreation coordinator to help run programs at the new CERC recreation center slated to open in late 2025.
At the meeting, the presenter said the position is “crucial” to manage expanded programs, reduce staff burnout and implement daytime senior offerings and other new activities. The presenter said many current programs already operate with wait lists and that the new center will increase demand for staffing.
Board members pressed for budget details. Mr. Cromie explained the district plans to define and fund recreation fixed costs through a revised tax levy for Fund 80 that consolidates permanent recreation positions, utilities and contract software. Cromie said the intent is to keep a fund balance of about 50% of annual recreation expenses so that a “good year offsets a bad year” inside Fund 80 rather than shifting dollars between the general fund and recreation.
Board members asked whether the coordinator would be full time and whether the position is currently in the budget; the presenter said yes to full time and Cromie said a levy change will be presented in April with a spreadsheet of positions and costs. The board repeatedly asked for a clear list of positions and funding sources; administrators agreed to return with a line-item spreadsheet at the next budget presentation.
Administrators described how program fees are tracked to individual activities (for example, soccer revenue and expenses are coded together) but said that some positions support districtwide recreation rather than a single fee-based program. The presenters emphasized an objective of maintaining accessible fees and using the tax levy to subsidize operations that are not easily assigned to a single registration program.
No formal board action was taken on Feb. 19. Administrators said they will bring a detailed funding spreadsheet and a list of the positions that would move to Fund 80 to the board in April.
