Finance staff briefed the Finance Committee on June 12 about the recreation department’s budgets, revolving funds and the extended-day program. The packet separated the general fund recreation, revolving funds and Extended Day to clarify program costs and revenues.

Why this matters: The town moved Extended Day from the schools into the recreation department; the committee is ensuring programs intended to be self-supporting are properly budgeted and that the town’s general fund only subsidizes programs meant to be a public service.

Staff told the committee that the rec play camp line in the general fund (budgeted at $181,000 for FY26 in the packet) likely should be in the recreation revolving fund because the camps are expected to cover costs in that fund. Staff said they will meet with Recreation Director Sam and others to reclassify revenues and expenses and to finalize the FY26 presentation.

Committee members noted the recreation staffing change (one fewer park staff position) and that some revenue lines—such as a conservative pool revenue projection (reduced in the packet from $50,000 to $11,000)—are intentionally cautious; staff said fees were raised and both pools may operate in the coming year, so revenue could be higher than the conservative estimate.

On Extended Day, staff said there is a healthy balance carried over from when the program was run by schools and that the town expects to move roughly $330,000 of certified free cash to the program in either a fall or spring article to cover initial costs; staff also noted the policy limit for the Extended Day revolving fund was raised to $850,000 (annualized spending maximum as described in the meeting).

Ending: Staff will meet with department leadership to reclassify program revenue and expenses, finalize the Extended Day budget, and prepare a clearer FY26 packet for the committee. No formal vote was taken at the meeting.