City’s recreation programs will pay for themselves Response to challenge to cut $200K from budget By DAVE RANK Daily News Staff Turning its recreation division into a self-funded enterprise is the boldest step Director Craig Hoeppner said the Park, Recreation and Forestry Department will do to cut more than $200,000 from its budget next year. The Common Council on Monday approved a 6-step plan to realign the department that will trim more than 14% compared to its current expenditures. Hoeppner said the changes will make his department stronger & that most, if not all, current recreation offerings will be able to continue. The department has a $1.6 million budget this year, Hoeppner said, with Recreation accounting for $318,588. Division revenues this year are projected to reach $170,586, he said, with $148,002 coming from the property tax levy to pay the rest. Add in staff health insurance costs & other benefits, “it comes to about a $160,000 deficit between recreation expenditures this year & revenues generated,” Hoeppner said. West Bend’s 2013 budget is $22.1 million with a $19.3 million tax levy. In February, Mayor Kraig Sadownikow challenged Hoeppner’s department to find $200,000 in savings as part of the solution to an expected $1.3 million deficit the city likely would face for its 2014 budget. Since then, department staff, the West Bend Park & Recreation Commission, & other city officials brainstormed & worked on a multi-proposal solution, Hoeppner said. “I think we’ll have to raise some (recreation program) fees, but not substantially,” Hoeppner said. “It’s going to be a hard start, but very doable.” “Nice work,” Alderman Randy Koehler said. “I appreciate all the good work that went into it. I like it.” “This should make our department much stronger for the future,” Hoeppner said. “I think this is a prototype (reorganization) not only for other departments to look at but other communities as well,” Sadownikow said. In February, the mayor presented a preliminary budget projection for 2014 of $23 million with a $20.7 million levy, from which city officials want to cut $1.3 million. Park bridge bids too high West Bend staff will take a do-it-yourself approach to replace the Regner Park south bridge. On Monday night, the Common Council voted to reject both bids on the project because they were more than double the estimated $70,000-$90,000 price for the work. Instead, landscape architect Melissa Philipps said, the Park, Recreation & Forestry Department will purchase a precast concrete bridge & footings, & use city personnel to install it. The low bid for the project was just under $200,000, while the department has about $70,000 in its budget, Philipps said. T.J. Justice, interim city administrator & Department of Development director, said he will ask the Department of Public Works and the Engineering Division to assist in the project. Replacing the bridge is needed to allow traffic to circle through Regner Park for Enchantment in the Park, which will open in the park this winter. Regner Park is the new home of Enchantment in the Park, which features lighted holiday displays that attract between 30,000-40,000 visitors between Thanksgiving & Christmas. A joint effort of four Rotary Clubs in the county, Enchantment in the Park was previously located at Washington County Fair Park. “Hopefully, we can continue this (project) moving along,” Sadownikow said. Changing Park and Rec The West Bend Common Council approved a reorganization of the city’s Park, Recreation and Forestry Department that should generate a budget reduction of $230,319 in its 2014 budget compared to this year’s expenditures. The six planned departmental changes that will be implemented on Jan. 1: 1. Convert the Recreation Division into an enterprise fund, which would cover all division expenses through the revenues it generates under one full-time recreation supervisor. “A revolving fund would be established and all money would stay in this account year to year.” The department will provide $60,000 in seed money from its 2013 account to start this enterprise fund, Director Craig Hoeppner said. This is expected to save $158,027 next year. 2. Change a full-time administrative assistant to a part-time administrative position, cutting $38,252 from the budget. 3. Continue the conservation supervisor, which works with the Lac Lawrann Conservancy, as a part-time position, which will save $44,040. 4. Reducing the Downtown Maintenance Contract by $40,000. Public properties, such as pocket parks, would continue to be maintained, while downtown businesses would be expected to care for areas around their buildings. 5. Create a tourism and event coordinator who will be in charge of community special events and creating new tourism initiatives. Expected to add $50,000 in revenue to the city’s general fund. 6. Upgrade one Forestry Division position to a city arborist to add more expertise to handle the emerald ash borer program. There would be almost no financial impact. Source: West Bend Park, Recreation and Forestry Department
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 14:21:57 +0000
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