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Rexburg City Council approves budget adjustment to subsidize ice rink through September
Summary
Council approved a budget adjustment that reallocates roughly $40,500 from reserves and program transfers to subsidize the city'run ice rink through September and authorized related line‑item moves; council also approved hiring plans and directed staff to monitor usage data and programming.
Rexburg City Council voted to approve a budget adjustment to keep the newly acquired ice rink operating through September while staff work to stabilize programming and revenues.
Finance staff told the council the ice rink has high startup and operating costs and is likely to run an operating loss for the current fiscal period. Staff recommended hiring one full‑time manager and proposed a transfer of up to $56,000 from the general fund as a contingency, with $40,500 requested in the immediate budget adjustment after identified offsets in other recreation programs.
Staff said projected part‑time wages and startup capital purchases (floor scrubber, skates, Zamboni backup, specialized contracts for refrigeration equipment) contributed to the shortfall. The finance presentation projected an approximate operating loss "around $45,000" for the period under current revenue assumptions and estimated an eight‑month operating target of about $269,000 in revenues to reach breakeven for the period discussed.
During discussion, council members pressed staff for more data on who uses the rink, requesting a report breaking down city resident use versus regional visitors and comparative summer operations at similar year‑round rinks. Staff agreed to run place‑of‑sale reports and to research peer facilities.
Council amended the budget adjustment on the floor to remove a previously proposed plan to relocate cross‑country ski rentals to the ice rink and then moved and seconded the budget change; the motion passed by voice vote.
The approved package also included reassigning portions of race director wages to specific recreation program funds and reducing expenses in other recreation activities to partially offset the subsidy.
Council members said they supported trying the year‑round model through September but urged a detailed review in October to determine whether summertime operations are sustainable without ongoing general fund subsidies.
