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Rec & Parks, Civic Center and Tourism budgets show modest growth largely from utilities and targeted capital
Summary
Department leaders told the council that most operating increases for Recreation & Parks and the Civic Center are due to higher utility and maintenance costs; tourism will use prior‑year fund balance for capital projects including Mason‑Dixon Park and Winter Place lighting.
Department directors for Recreation & Parks, the Civic Center and Tourism presented budget details to the Wicomico County Council on May 1, citing utility increases, fee adjustments and planned capital projects funded largely by grants and enterprise fund balances.
Recreation & Parks Director Steve Miller and deputies described a modest operating increase driven primarily by rising utility and salary costs. The department operates as a separate governmental fund to simplify accounting for many programs and to appropriate funding for full‑time staff that maintain parks and run revenue‑generating programs. Miller said most program fees are intended to break even for part‑time staffing while full‑time salaries and benefits are county‑funded.
Officials said they will propose modest fee increases tied to higher background‑check costs for youth‑sports referees and increases in supply costs. Miller told the council tournament sponsorships sometimes include gift cards to cover team meals; he said the governor’s‑challenge basketball tournament’s gift‑card costs were covered by tournament revenue and sponsorships, not by taxpayers.
At the Civic Center, county staff said operating increases largely reflect utility and fuel‑generator maintenance costs and that one‑time information‑technology replacements were planned. The Civic Center capital plan includes a freight elevator addition to reduce wear on the passenger elevator and to meet ADA and equipment‑movement needs; the draft budget included a vendor estimate for the elevator project and staff flagged potential tariff‑related cost volatility.
Tourism staff said advertising line items fell because a three‑year EDA grant ended; the department will use accumulated hotel‑motel tax fund balance (about $740,000 in planned uses) for projects such as Mason‑Dixon Park renovation, Winter Place lighting, signage and welcome‑center upkeep. Tourism officials also expect to move toward a smaller printed visitor guide and more digital promotions.
Council members asked about gift‑card use, vehicle‑lease adjustments and temporary lane closures during civic center construction; staff said the tournament gift cards were purchased to meet meal provisions in team MOUs and are accounted for by event revenues, and that construction will require temporary traffic adjustments for safety.
No formal votes were taken; council indicated appreciation for departmental management and asked staff to return with any fee proposals for council action.
