Council members press for clarity on summer-camp funding routed through recreation districts

Council members pressed staff April 13 for clearer rules governing how parish funds support summer camps after questions from Councilman Harding about who receives money and when.

Harding said he could not understand how camps could operate “if something is laid out and there’s no money upfront.” Candace Waldo of the Quality of Life office replied that the parish budgeted about $210,000 for summer‑camp programming and that the funding is routed through recreation districts. Districts must submit a board resolution and proposed budget by April 30; Quality of Life will review and the department expects to finalize budgets and sign agreements by about June 15, after which the parish will issue payment to the recreation district that administered the program.

Waldo said the parish uses a parish‑wide recreation millage for the funding and that recreation districts may also have their own millages and registration fees; the parish’s contribution is treated as supplemental support. She added that if a recreation district wants a third party to run a camp, the agreement would be between the third party and the recreation district, and the parish cannot pay a third party directly—payments must flow to the rec district, which must provide the facility.

Members asked staff how many camps had applied and what was remaining in the budget; staff said districts had until April 30 to submit proposals and that finance was still working through final numbers. Harding and other council members said they support accessible, low‑cost camps that keep children safe and occupied during summer months and wanted the process to allow timely upfront support when necessary.

Next steps: rec districts have an April 30 submission deadline; Quality of Life staff expect to present finalized agreements in mid‑June and to disburse funds to rec districts after signatures and budget approvals.