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Parks director requests $327,000 in equipment; board debates Oak Cemetery costs and phasing
Summary
Parks Director Sarah said the department's FY26 requests include $327,000 for vehicles and mowers, including replacements for aging trucks and turf equipment; the board discussed cemetery operating costs (Oak Cemetery revenues ~ $100,000) and asked to consider phased approaches rather than an all-or-nothing funding decision.
Parks Director Sarah told the board the parks department’s FY26 preliminary request reduces personnel and operating costs from the amended budget but includes $327,000 in capital for equipment replacements: one work truck, two 4-wheel-drive crew cabs (replacing units from 2002–2006) and two commercial mowers. She said the department pared some capital detail and plans to review items with administration.
Sarah said cemetery operations bring in about $100,000 in revenue and that the department currently budgets about $280,000 for Oak Cemetery operations. Board members noted the cost/revenue gap and debated options including a phased capital plan and seeking alternative funding before committing to additional cemetery operating costs or adding new cemetery sites.
The board discussed the master plan amendment work for the ACME property that had been proposed; Sarah suggested deferring a planned amendment (roughly $175,000 noted in the meeting) to ease near-term fiscal pressure and to permit the plan to be finalized later this year.
Directors asked for more detailed revenue-and-expense schedules for cemeteries, a clearer breakdown of capital-priority items (vehicles versus other equipment) and a timetable for replacing the oldest trucks and mowers. Sarah said the department will meet with administration to identify possible interfund transfers or alternative funding sources for essential equipment.
Background and next steps: Sarah said some capital requests were driven by deferred maintenance (hail damage, siding on historic facilities) and by aging vehicles that have been kept running for years. The board requested a follow-up that breaks out cemetery revenues, the timing of capital replacements and options for phased investments.
