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Parks director warns of potential cuts as city faces $23 million general fund shortfall
Summary
The Parks and Recreation director told commissioners the city is addressing a roughly $23 million general-fund deficit and that department vacancies are frozen; staffers said some services and hires are on hold while the city and council subcommittee consider options including revenue measures and service prioritization.
During the director’s report, the Parks and Recreation director told the commission that the city is confronting a general-fund budget deficit the department described as roughly $23,000,000 and that a special City Council subcommittee is working with the city manager and finance director on reduction options.
“We have…a budget deficit, which has now reached $23,000,000,” the director said, urging commissioners to use their positions to communicate with council members about services the community values. The director said department leadership had discussed the size of the deficit with the finance director and that the amount is “sizable.”
The director said immediate operational impacts include a hiring freeze for about nine currently vacant, critical positions in operations and recreation, plus inability to backfill three or four staff on medical leave with temporary help. Department staff have been asked to prepare for potential reductions and identify priorities for retained services.
The director said the city may consider revenue options — including measures that would require council and voter action — but that no final decisions had been announced and that staff expect to provide commissioners with more detailed information and possible fee changes in coming weeks.
Commissioners were told parks and recreation is the city’s third-largest department budgetarily after police and fire and that the department will submit prioritized options and that staff will meet individually with commissioners to discuss likely impacts.
No formal reductions were approved at the meeting; staff will return with further details as the city’s subcommittee and finance staff develop reduction and revenue scenarios.
