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Parks director flags utilities shortfall and zeroed special-events line in 2024 budget
Summary
Director J.C. Kennedy told the Park Advisory Board that the Parks utilities line is budgeted at $60,000 despite historical expenditures above that level and that the 2024 Parks Special Events line was cut to $0 after city-mandated reductions, raising concerns about maintenance and community programming.
Parks & Recreation Director J.C. Kennedy warned the Park Advisory Board on Jan. 11 that the 2024 Parks budget includes line items that may be insufficient to maintain current services.
Kennedy said the Parks utilities budget is funded at $60,000 for 2024 while historical actuals have varied: $94,440 (2018), $126,724.08 (2019), $92,342.70 (2020), $145,143.93 (2021), $75,168.49 (2022) and $110,293.98 (2023). He said these figures do not include additional irrigation expenses anticipated if the city accepts the Highland Village Project from Community Frameworks.
On special events, Kennedy said the Parks team initially requested $25,000 for 2024 but a Sept. 21, 2023, memorandum from the city manager required a $50,000 reduction in the Parks budget; the result in the adopted 2024 budget is $0 budgeted for Special Events. Kennedy said the shift in cuts focused first on the Recreation Budget and then parks; he described concern that the lack of event funding could affect programs traditionally supported by the city.
Board members discussed the figures during the meeting but recorded no formal action to restore funding. The department will continue reporting budget impacts to the board as 2024 planning proceeds.
