Recreation budget 101: O'Fallon staff outline funds, reserve accounts and planned Greenway connection in 2027 CIP

John briefed the advisory board on June 9 about the Recreation budget process and how capital projects are funded and scheduled. He said the department operates out of four funds — a general fund, a recreation fund (primarily supported by a half-cent sales tax), Renard enterprise fund and a transient guest tax fund — and that the department uses a zero-based budgeting approach that starts in spring and moves through fee, wage and CIP deadlines in mid‑summer and fall.

When asked whether funding for a Greenway trail connection from Sports Park to Bluebird Park and Dardenne Prairie will appear in next year’s budget, staff said the department has been setting aside money in reserve accounts and that the Greenway connection will be included in the 2027 CIP and budget presentation. John explained reserve accounts function like savings: he described three reserve accounts (walkable/bike, park maintenance, future park funding) and said the reserve balances roll over year to year if funds are committed; he gave running totals for those accounts in his presentation.

Staff also explained that facility replacements (for example, gym floors and pool HVAC) are handled as CIP items on multi-year schedules and that program fees are set separately and may not be listed in the fee schedule because they are market-dependent. The board asked clarifying questions about how unspent reserve allocations behave and whether unfilled positions would harm the 2027 request; staff said reserved funds remain available and vacancies do not automatically reduce requested hours in the next budget cycle.

The meeting did not approve any specific CIP spending at this session; staff said projects will be presented in the formal 2027 budget and CIP packets for council consideration later this year.