Fort Smith board studies 2025 operating budget cuts; parks, IT and police special-event funding draw board scrutiny

Board members and department leaders spent the April 29 study session reviewing proposed 2025 operating-budget reductions across city departments, focusing on Parks and Recreation, information technology, public safety and several service programs. Presenters described targeted, mostly one-time cuts and cautioned that some reductions could delay maintenance or program improvements.

Parks and Recreation: Department leaders Sarah Duuster, director of parks and recreation, and Deputy Director Brian Pennicks outlined planned reductions intended to protect service levels while trimming costs. The department proposed postponing one-time capital purchases (including an LED retrofit project and security-camera installs at Creekmore Community Center and the Glass Pavilion) and reclassifying an open maintenance supervisor position to a field-focused lead to preserve career progression without increasing FTEs. Duuster said the pool will open Memorial Day weekend but that parking-lot construction affects logistics for this season. The parks staff identified a $2,400 initial estimate for a point-of-sale (POS) system integrated with the city’s Tyler cashiering software; board members questioned that estimate and discussed lower-cost alternatives such as Clover or Square, and the department said it will operate on cash-only at the pool this year while developing a longer-term plan.

Capital/Ac…