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Department outlines budget reductions, staffing vacancies and water-prioritization amid fiscal pressure
Summary
Staff reported the department has used about 48% of its general-fund budget halfway through the fiscal year, is pursuing $1.7 million in reductions, and is holding vacant positions to meet targets; staff recommended prioritizing water for ballfields, City Hall and newly established plantings as costs rise.
Staff reported at the Jan. 14 meeting that Recreation and Parks used approximately 48% of its approved general-fund budget by midyear and has submitted roughly $1.7 million in proposed reductions to the city manager’s office as part of larger citywide deficit responses.
Department staff described a strategy of holding vacancies to meet reduction targets: at the time of the meeting staff reported 10 full-time vacancies out of 72 positions, two part-time vacancies out of 35 and 37 limited-service vacancies out of 138. Staff said holding positions open contributed substantially to year-to-date savings but warned that continued vacancies will affect program delivery, facility rentals, park maintenance and ranger patrols.
Staff also described rising costs for water and maintenance. Because recent rain allowed staff to turn off irrigation temporarily, the department said it is evaluating watering priorities for the remainder of the year and proposed prioritizing field watering at ballfields recently prepped for play, irrigation at City Hall and new construction landscapes (for example new pocket parks and the Battles Road multi-use path). Staff advised the commission that additional requests for water funding have been made previously to council, and the department will return with more detailed proposals and impacts.
No formal budget action was taken by the commission; staff said a budget working session will be scheduled once the commission forms a budget committee and commissioners asked that more detailed impacts be provided at a future meeting.
