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Zionsville Park Board reviews lean 2026 budget, plans to bring mowing in-house
Summary
Park staff presented a proposed 2026 budget that trims a filled maintenance position, includes a 2% COLA, reallocates part-time roles into a non-reverting program fund, and earmarks an impact-fee study; capital reserves are limited and small-equipment purchases total $40,000.
ZIONSVILLE, Ind. — The Zionsville Park Board on Dec. 10 reviewed a proposed 2026 budget that reduces the full-time salary line after a staff departure but maintains a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for remaining employees, officials said.
Jared, the parks superintendent, told the board the salary reduction reflects an unfilled maintenance position and a shift toward a seasonal staffing model that relies on more summer seasonal employees. "That line does encumber also a 2% cola for all of our remaining staff," he said. Jared also corrected a ledger typo, saying a longevity-pay line shown as $88,000 "is actually just 8,000."
The proposal increases some maintenance and fuel lines and moves some part-time positions from the general fund into the parks' non-reverting operating (program) fund, a step Jared described as the first phase of creating an enterprise fund to support operations. The budget includes $40,000 slated for equipment purchases in 2026 and a $65,000 general-donations allocation drawn from existing cash balances.
Board members pressed for context on expenditure-versus-budget tracking and whether leftover funds create pressure to spend. Jared said vacancies produced this year’s personnel savings and that typically about 2% reverts each year; unspent funds revert to the town general fund but historically remain available to parks operations.
The proposed budget also sets aside funds for a five-year impact-fee study to prepare a fee schedule for 2027. Jared said the board will see a proposal on impact fees in 2026.
The presentation noted operational changes tied to bringing mowing work in-house after previously contracting that service (about $80,000 in prior-year contractual costs). Jared said the board has budgeted for added equipment to support expanded in-house responsibilities but acknowledged the trade-offs: increased spread of staff and somewhat less time for repairs and ADA improvements.
Next steps: the DGLF (tax-based) and non-DGLF funds described at the meeting have been forwarded for state certification and will guide 2026 operations if certified.
