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Finance committee debates cuts to parks budget: pools, dumpsters, fountains and a proposed $45,000 park study
Summary
Councilors debated whether to keep all three city pools open, to remove dumpsters from parks, and whether to fund a $45,000 park study. Parks staff and aldermen identified $30,000 needed to keep the third pool open and recommended options including shifting one-time economic development funds, using small-projects balances, or seeking donor/merch
The Finance Committee spent a lengthy portion of Monday’s session discussing proposed parks and recreation cuts that would affect pools, downtown beautification and park maintenance.
Committee members said the parks department’s budget currently assumes two pools will be open on any given day, with a $30,000 savings if staff reduce operations and rotate which two pools are open. The committee chair summarized the choice: “If the committee wants to keep all 3 pools open, each day during pool season, we will we'll need to find $30,000 from some place.” Alderman Albert Cooney and others urged keeping the three pools open for the summer, describing the cut as a one-time fix that could lead to additional pool-closure requests in future years.
Parks staff and councilors reviewed a menu of alternatives presented…
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