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Woodland Park finance director presents 2025 year-end report; aquatic center cost-recovery flagged
Summary
Finance director presented unaudited 2025 year-end numbers: general fund ending balance ~$4.76M (rising to ~$5.2M if a $523,000 GO reimbursement is received); revenues and expenditures near budgeted totals; council expressed concern about Woodland Aquatic Center's 45% cost recovery and discussed strategies to improve performance.
Finance Director Aaron presented Woodland Park’s unaudited 2025 year-end report to the City Council on July 18, summarizing fund balances, revenues and expenditures across the city’s major funds.
Key figures the city reported: a 2025 beginning general-fund balance of $5,195,000, revenues of about $12,564,000 and expenditures of roughly $13,044,000, producing an ending general-fund balance of approximately $4,755,000. Aaron noted a $523,000 general-obligation reimbursement expected from GO-Ko that, if received, would raise the balance to approximately $5.2 million. Staff described that most revenue lines tracked within projections, though specific ownership tax and construction-use tax were down while vehicle use and highway-user tax lines increased.
The presentation broke down other funds: the culture and recreation fund produced $1.616M in revenue with a large general-fund subsidy and debt service adding to costs; the Woodland Aquatic Center had revenues of $448,000 and expenditures of $985,000, yielding a 45% cost recovery rate including debt service. Council members expressed concern about the aquatic center’s sustainability and supported staff efforts to target 55–60% cost recovery through scheduling alignment, increased programming and possible operational adjustments.
Other highlights: streets fund revenues exceeded projections resulting in a $4.711M ending balance; water and wastewater funds reported healthy balances and positive revenue variances. The DDA fund showed an ending balance of $1.723M after beautification and master-plan match expenditures. The finance director reviewed outstanding city debt including the GO bond for the aquatic center and DDA tax-increment revenue refunding bonds.
Why it matters: fund balances and cost-recovery metrics inform council’s budget direction and priorities for 2026 and beyond, particularly where enterprise operations (like the aquatic center) rely on subsidized support.
Next steps: staff will continue to finalize the audit and return with the finalized audit report; council asked staff to explore revenue and scheduling options to improve aquatic center cost recovery.
Representative quote: "I have let them know that this is completely unacceptable. We will be aiming for 55 to 60% cost recovery this year going forward," Finance Director Aaron said about the aquatic center.
