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Fraser recreation staff say $5,000 restoration needed after budget cut to avoid cancelling events
Summary
Recreation staff told the Fraser Recreation Commission that a cut in the department’s event budget from $15,000 to $10,000 has left roughly $4,800 available and that staff will ask the city council in March for a $5,000 restoration to avoid cancelling planned ticketed trips and events.
Fraser — Recreation staff told the Fraser Recreation Commission on Feb. 10 that a recent reduction in the department’s event budget is putting several spring and summer activities at risk and that staff will ask the city council in March for a $5,000 restoration.
"As you guys know, our budget was lowered from 15,000 to 10,000 for the fiscal year. That is hitting us pretty hard right now," the staff member said during the administration report. The staff member said about $4,800 remains in the line item and that restoring $5,000 would return the fund to its prior level of $15,000.
The staff member said some planned activities — including ticketed outings such as Detroit Tigers games and the Detroit Princess Cruise — are costly and often require payment before the new fiscal year. "It’s over $1,000 a game for it," the staff member said of some outings. If council declines the requested increase, the staff member said the department would consider canceling some events.
The report also listed upcoming programs and events that depend on the budget: a Family Fun Night held Feb. 14 at the Vintage House (sold out), a marshmallow drop on Mar. 28 with multiple sessions, senior activity center excursions and fundraisers that rely on partial sponsorships. The staff member said some events receive sponsorships or vendor contributions but that direct department funding is required for several large-ticket items.
Next steps: the staff member said the recreation department or the finance director will present the $5,000 request to city council at its March meeting. The commission did not take a formal vote on funding at the Feb. 10 meeting; the item will move to council for a decision.
Context: the administration report also noted a broad set of rental and program changes intended to improve customer planning, including moving resident pavilion rentals to the first business day in February and nonresident rentals to the first business day in March.
