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Board reviews FY2016 operating request and CIP; staff requests $70,000 subsidy for Wicomico Shores Golf Course
Summary
Department staff outlined FY2016 operating and capital budget requests, citing flat revenues, a minimum-wage-driven cost increase, program expansions and a proposed $70,000 county subsidy to cover Wicomico Shores Golf Course operating shortfalls.
Staff from the St. Mary’s County Department of Recreation and Parks presented the department’s FY2016 operating and capital budget submissions to the advisory board on Feb. 5, describing flat revenue expectations, several targeted increases and a requested $70,000 subsidy for Wicomico Shores Golf Course.
Why it matters: budget submissions shape what the department may be able to operate and maintain in the coming fiscal year; the Wicomico Shores subsidy request signals the golf course enterprise fund no longer covers deficits and will need county support if rounds and revenues do not recover.
Key operating and one-time requests
Department staff told the board they would submit two separate FY2016 requests: an operating (departmental) submission and a capital improvement program (CIP) submission. Staff characterized the FY2016 environment as "revenues are flat, no new initiatives, no new full time positions" and highlighted several line items:
- Wicomico Shores Golf Course subsidy: staff proposed a $70,000 subsidy from the general fund and a $28,000 drawdown from the enterprise fund to address historic deficits at the course.
- Recreation activity fund: an additional $74,000 requested for program operating costs and new school-age center programs.
- Museums division: $25,030 additional operating request and a separate $18,452 in hourly assistance and vehicle replacement financing noted for museum locations.
- Parks equipment and minimum wage: $7,860 in equipment requests, and $14,261 to cover minimum-wage increases (Maryland schedule starting Jan. 1 raised to $8.00, with phased increases to $10.10 by July 1, 2018) that affect hourly staff and program costs.
Board discussion of Wicomico Shores
Board members questioned the sustainability of subsidizing Wicomico Shores. A member noted prior self-funding status and asked about a plan to increase rounds and revenues; staff said rounds have decreased from about 36,000–35,000 per year at peak to roughly 28,000–30,000 in recent years, and the department has increased fees by $1 for greens fees and $25 across some season-pass categories. Staff said they will continue marketing specials, leagues and advertising to attract daily-fee players and maintain restaurant/banquet operations, which are generally covering costs.
Capital requests and uncertainties
The CIP summary included a series of projects for FY2016–2020: Nicollet Park entrance, 3 Notch Trail phases, Myrtle Point master planning and A&E, playground surfacing replacements, athletic-field lighting, and the Lancaster Park additional construction funding (the engineer's new estimate added about $1.1 million). Staff said some projects were pushed from FY2015 and that grant and state Program Open Space funding levels could change year to year.
Procedural note
Staff said the departmental operating submission was due the next day and the CIP submittal schedule is moving forward; the advisory board did not vote to approve the budget (staff was presenting requests to be transmitted to finance and the commissioners), but members discussed priorities and expressed concern about ongoing subsidies to enterprise operations.
Ending
Staff will finalize and submit the operating and CIP requests to county finance per schedule; the board will be asked to review final materials and the commissioners will make funding decisions through the county budgeting process.
