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Park board requests just-over-$2 million operating and capital budget for 2026
Summary
Park Board President JD Burns told the Brainerd City Council the board is requesting a 2026 budget just over $2 million, driven mainly by personnel costs; capital asks include equipment, long-term facilities planning and moving up a playground replacement for safety reasons.
JD Burns, president of the Brainerd Park Board, presented the board's 2026 operating and capital budget request to the City Council on Aug. 18, asking for just over $2 million and explaining changes compared with 2025.
"For 2026 we are requesting just over $2 million," Burns said, adding the request represents a bit more than a 10% increase over the 2025 budget. Burns told council roughly 8 percentage points of the increase are attributable to personnel expenses; supplies and services showed smaller changes. On capital, the board seeks $142,000 for equipment and $457,386 for long-term facilities planning and listed $106,000 in reserve draws for near-term projects.
Burns said the Memorial Park playground replacement was moved up because deterioration and safety concerns emerged sooner than anticipated. When asked about the roof estimate for the stone arch feature, Burns said the current estimate is about $6,000.
Council members asked clarifying questions about whether the request represented growth or replacement; Burns said the board's priority in this request is maintaining and replacing existing facilities rather than expanding the park inventory.
Next steps: Council had the budget request in the meeting packet and will consider it as part of the city's overall 2026 budget process.
