Lakeville Park Commission reviews FY2026 budget, considers fee increases and capital work

The Town of Lakeville Park Commission reviewed its draft fiscal 2026 budget Thursday and discussed several options to cover an anticipated shortfall if a planned transfer from the general fund is not available.

Commissioners heard that the parks department may be billed $4,000 related to Loon Pond and that replacement lighting at John Pond Park could cost roughly $10,000 to $12,000 for three poles and new brackets. The commission also discussed a $17,500 expected transfer from the town’s general fund that staff said may not come through; commissioners discussed using retained earnings or cutting hours or raising fees to cover the gap.

The discussion is significant because the transfer and retained earnings affect staffing, operating hours and planned capital work at Loon Pond and Clear Pond, and because the commission is weighing options — such as opening Loon Pond to nonresidents, increasing individual fees or changing hours — to avoid…