Columbia Parks and Recreation seeks budget increase
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The City of Columbia Parks and Recreation is looking for increased funding in the 2024 fiscal year.
The department is asking for a total 19.4 percent increase from last year’s budget with a total proposal of $19,831,225. However, their anticipated budget is $18,877,923.
Highlights/significant changes
• Personnel - Addition of three FTE positions; Senior administrative support assistant, parks and grounds specialist (horticulture) and a maintenance assistant. The budget for temporary personnel was also increased in the Forestry
division to support trail maintenance.
• Materials and Supplies - Minimal material increases needed to offset rising cost of goods (6.1%).
• Travel and Training - Increased by $1,500 (6.5%) to cover required International Society of Arborist staff certifications.
• Utilities - Increased (9.2%) based on additional facilities, actual expenses from previous years and rate increases.
• Services - Increased $136,387 based on reallocated funds from Finance and Cultural Affairs for services now allocated in the Parks
and Recreation budget. Actual increase in funds of $45,800 (6.8%) due to cost increases associated with contract services.
• The Utilities Department continued their funding support of the CARE Program in the amount of $48,093, as directed by the City
Council in the FY 2020 budget.
• There are minimal recreation services fee increases for FY 2024.
• The General Fund subsidy is budgeted at $5,061,593.
The budget accounts for the parks and recreation program areas that do not have revenue-producing capabilities. Funding allows for continuous maintenance and improvements to all of the Department’s parks, trails and facilities.
As part of it’s proposed operational budget Parks and Recreation are looking to add staff and get additional money to cover the cost of supplies, training, and utilities.
The three new positions the department is looking to hire is a Senior Administrative Support Assistant for the ARC, Parks and Grounds Specialist (Horticulture) and a Maintenance Assistant (Maintenance). The budget for temporary personnel was also increased in the Forestry division to support trail maintenance.
The addition of a Senior Administrative Assistant for the Activity and Recreation Center (ARC) will improve the customer experience for ARC members and daily visitors by having a more consistent presence at the front desk, according to their strategic plan.
The addition of a maintenance assistant position in the Park Services Division will help to improve the daily cleanliness of parks and facilities and prepare the Department for the maintenance associated with the addition of new parks and facilities in the future.
The parks and grounds specialist will work in the Natural Resource Division which is responsible for maintaining 73 active parks, 18.5 acres of landscape beds, the Blind Boone Home, the Creasy Springs Road and Business Loop 70 roundabout, the Broadway adopt-a-spot beds near Stephens Lake Park, 20 rain gardens, over 20 ponds and lakes, and 200 new tree plantings yearly.
During the next 10 years, the Parks and Recreation Department will also be making capital improvements to 14 existing parks and facilities that will require the labor force of the Natural Resource Division, per the proposed budget.
