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Parks and recreation budget preview: STARS after‑school shifts to school district, crossing‑guard costs questioned
Summary
Staff presented the draft FY 2026–27 Community Services budget with $5.4 million in proposed expenditures and about $996,000 in charges-for-service revenue; the STARS after‑school program is being transferred to the school district and crossing‑guard cost‑sharing arrangements and staffing impacts were discussed.
Megan reviewed the draft Community Services department budget for FY 2026–27, reporting proposed expenditures of $5,415,355 and projected charges for services (revenue) of approximately $996,000, leaving a net general‑fund impact of about $3,424,359.
Staff explained the department's budget decreased because the STARS after‑school program is being transferred to the Yucaipa‑Calimesa Joint Unified School District. Sarah, recreation staff, described STARS as a program created in 2014 that the city operated until April of this year; the district will now operate it.
Commissioners pressed staff on several budget items, including a roughly 50% increase shown for crossing‑guard costs while the school district’s contribution appeared to rise by a much smaller percentage. Staff said the city's long‑standing practice (dating to the late 1990s and early 2000s) has been to share crossing‑guard costs because those crossings sit on city right‑of‑way; they also said salary and benefits (PERS, insurance) can increase the city's payroll figures beyond the district’s non‑salary contribution. The crossing‑guard contract was slated to go to council for approval and the district is reported to commit to paying half of certain crossing‑guard costs.
Other budget items discussed included a request for two additional assistant maintenance workers, a $90,000 quote for replacement/asset‑management software (no current budget allocation), and grants or restricted funds (for example, gas tax restricted funds that support streets). Commissioners asked staff to identify midyear amendment options and to return with clarified contributions where possible.
The commission voted to recommend that the draft budget move forward as presented; the motion passed with no opposition and Commissioner Keller absent. Staff will present the final adopted budget after City Council action.
