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Westside Recreation and Park District warns of 25% property-tax shortfall after multi-year revenue decline
Summary
Les Clark of the Westside Recreation and Park District said the district's property-tax revenue has fallen since 2014, staff has been cut from 14 to 4, and the district expects a 25% property-tax shortfall this year; Clark called for community partnership and capacity-building work.
Les Clark, representing the Westside Recreation and Park District, said the district is facing significant fiscal pressure after years of declining property-tax revenue and reduced volunteerism.
Clark said the district celebrated 76 years in the community but reported that property-tax revenue was $2.5 million in 2014 and that the district has taken a 50% hit year over year since then (as described during remarks). He said staff has been reduced from 14 full-time employees to four, and that last year the district finished in the black but faces a projected 25% property-tax shortfall this year, a shortfall Clark said is 15% worse than originally reported.
Despite financial strains, Clark highlighted partnerships and recent projects: collaborations with First 5 Kern, Chevron, California Resources Corporation, Taft College STEM and the Taft Kiwanis; an eco-vitality project to reduce utility costs; conversion of Field 2 into a girls'softball field; and expanded irrigation and landscaping work. He described a two-year capacity-build project intended to strengthen the district's foundation.
Clark urged a "call to action" for the community to support special districts and requested coordinated collaboration across organizations to sustain services.
