AGENDA #4
March 1, 2002
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Initial Budget Presentation to the Mayor and Town Council
2002-2003
I. Mission Statement
The key services provided by the Department are:
· Youth and adult sports activities through league play, clinics, and drop-in free play. Sports activities include basketball, baseball, flag football, lacrosse, softball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, and bocce ball.
· Programs such as pottery, kayaking, karate, aqua-aerobics, teen club, scuba diving, magic, holiday arts, summer camps, rock climbing, dance, cheerleading, Explorers, family activities, fun days, and music events.
· Special events such as the 4th of July Celebration, Festifall, Apple Chill, Halloween Carnival, Movies on the Plaza, Summer Concert Series.
The key facilities provided by the Department are:
· 14 parks with picnic and playground equipment
· 2 swimming pools
· 2 community centers
· 3 gymnasiums
· Outdoor gardens, athletic fields, tennis courts, volleyball courts, bocce ball courts, and basketball courts
· Skateboard park/batting cage facility
· Extensive trail network and numerous open space areas
|
REVENUE SOURCE |
Actual 2000-2001 Revenues |
2001-2002 Budgeted Revenues |
Estimated 2001-2002 Revenues |
Estimated Revenues For 2002-2003 |
% Increase (Decrease) from Original Budget |
|
Orange County Support |
81,458 |
81,000 |
81,000 |
81,000 |
-0- |
|
Program Fees and Charges |
361,841 |
333,400 |
330,898 |
334,100 |
-0- |
· Total rental income has stabilized after significant increase last two years. Estimated revenue is down slightly due to scheduled shutdown of the Hargraves Center/A.D. Clark Pool and change in skateboard park/batting cage facility concessionaire contract. Until additional programming space is identified new program opportunities are limited
|
CATEGORY |
2001-2002 Original Budget |
2001-2002 Revised Budget |
2001-2002 Estimated |
2002-2003 Requested |
% Increase (Decrease) from Original Budget |
|
Personnel |
1,429,215 |
1,426,215 |
1,415,774 |
1,472,381 |
0.03 |
|
Operations |
586,165 |
659,844 |
636,294 |
608,639 |
0.04 |
|
Capital Equipment |
1,800 |
1,800 |
1,800 |
6,600 |
2.67 |
|
TOTAL |
2,017,180 |
2,087,859 |
2,053,868 |
2,087,620 |
0.03 |
Support, administration, and facilities:
· Maintain overall support levels as currently exists
· Expand registration access through new computer software—will eventually enable registration at Hargraves and Community Centers
Programming:
· Maintain most programs at FY 01-02 levels
· Expand programming for citizens with disabilities to offer spectrum of choice, from mainstreaming/inclusion to stand alone programs for individuals with special needs
· Focus on sponsorship and grant opportunities
· Increased drop in use of Northside Gymnasium
· Significant increase in transportation costs for participants in summer camp at Northside Gym (due to shutdown of Hargraves Center/AD Clark Pool)
· Increased art, cultural, and nature programming, particularly one day workshops
· Management of existing community events
· Management of existing athletics programs
· Management of existing classes and programs
· Management of field rentals
· Operation of facilities
· Grant writing
· Facilities planning and construction
· Marketing and information services
· Special populations programs
· Partnerships with other agencies particularly for programming space
Below is a description of the Department’s lone additional request:
Additional Summer Day Camp
Site: TWith the joint use agreement with the
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools for Scroggs Elementary School ensure, the Town has the opportunity to renew a third
summer camp site (Lincoln had been used as a third site, although less than ideal, site until
the early 1990s. The site was abandoned because of its poor
condition and lack of suitability for a camp).
We believe the single greatest
unmet recreation need in the community is affordable summer daylong programming
for school age youth. Although fees for Department camps are set to recoup 100%
of direct costs (per the adopted User Fee Policy), virtually all participants
pay a substantially reduced rate (typically 25% of the fee) or, in extreme
circumstances, nothing. The likelihood of significant offsetting revenue is
slim. Nonetheless, the need is trueexists.
An alternative use for the
third camp site is a specialized program for youth (elementary through high
school age) with disabilities. The Parks and Recreation Department drop-in
program at the StreetScene site is one of very few options for daylong summer
programming for middle and high school aged youth. We believe that structured
programming is especially important for middle and high school age youth with
disabilities. With the newly funded Community-Based Therapeutic Recreation
Specialist position the Parks and Recreation Department now has the expertise to run such a camp..
Funding for on-site staff, supplies, and operational needs would be additional costs.
Below is a rough estimate (based on existing camps) for costs to add either of these camps (based on 100 participants for a program similar to those at the Hargraves/Community Centers or for 25-30 participants for participants with disabilities (as staffing ratio would be significantly higher for the latter):
Staffing: $45,000
Supplies: $5,000
Transportation/Other: $8,000
PROGRAM TOTAL: $58,000
It is difficult to project revenue because all citizens can apply for fee reductions for any Department program or activity. In addition, if fees for a specialized camp for youth with disabilities were set to cover all direct costs, the camp would be prohibitively expensive for participants.
Proposed Reductions
Because of the extreme budget constraints this year, all Department Heads are preparing recommended reductions for consideration by the Manager.