By Aleasha Sandley, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
ANDERSON, Ind. — In the midst of a city budget crisis, some departments have taken bigger hits than others. One such department, Parks and Recreation, has seen the biggest drop in funding for 2010 than any other city sector.
The parks department will go from a budget of about $2 million in 2009 to about $750,000 in 2010, Superintendent Fred Reese said, a 62.5 percent drop.
City officials hope to decide within a couple of weeks how they will handle the loss of funding in the parks department, which could result in layoffs, a decrease in the number of parks in the city or a loss of services.
“Parks are responsible for 51 properties,” Board of Public Works Chairman Greg Graham said. “That needs to be reviewed because that’s a ton of properties for a community of our size to have to maintain.”
City officials also will look at partnering with other groups, such as churches and nonprofits, to sponsor activities in the parks and likely will have to lay off some employees.
“I’m certainly anticipating layoffs,” Graham said. “I don’t think there’s any question there’s going to be some; it’s just a question of how many.”
The parks department also plans to look at where it can cut unnecessary spending, such as with some chemicals it uses, and where it can become more efficient to save money, such as keeping the lights off more often at the city’s skate park, said Reese. Programs that are popular and can maintain themselves, such as football and Grandview Golf Course, likely will remain relatively intact, he said.
“We’re facing some economic times that caused us to have to look at some of our programming and see which ones are the more citizen-used programs that we have,” Graham said. “We’re very positive. You haven’t seen any letdown in services even though we’re faced with these times. We’re going to continue providing services and doing programs.
“It is what it is. It’s already been voted on by the council and that’s what we got.”
Parks are important to quality of life in Anderson, Reese said.
“Especially in these times given the economic challenges of families, it affects our communities and families,” he said. “You have situations where a lot of your families probably have more use at our parks because they’re unable to do vacations. Our programs and activities reach out to a broad spectrum of people. Parks is such an icon when it comes to providing quality of life.”
Parks also serve as an economic development tool, Reese said. Although economic development and quality of life are high on the current city administration’s list, the city budget is suffering from a 25 percent loss in revenue thanks, largely, to statewide property tax caps and declining assessed valuation.
“I think it’s a matter of trying to prioritize what revenue we’re going to have with providing essential city services,” Graham said. “We are down to the nitty-gritty here.”
Although the parks funds is not tied to the city’s general fund, they all are tied to the same tax rate, so reducing either fund has a positive effect on all the city’s funding, Graham said.
The parks department had a large budget cut for 2009, as well, Park Board President Darin Foltz said, losing about $500,000 and having to cut three positions.
“I think we have been cut disproportionately to other city departments,” he said. “That’s how our board members feel. We realize there are tough financial times for the city, but at the same time, we feel that our citizens need parks more than ever because they need low-cost recreational facilities and activities that parks can provide.”
Reese said the parks department might have to consider getting rid of some of its lesser used properties, including Stanton Park near 21st Street and Columbus Avenue, which has been up for sale but the city continues to maintain.
“Some of our facilities we don’t have a lot of use,” Reese said. “We just have a lot of properties. It’s just like we’re too large. (The budget cuts) are forcing us to do the right thing. Does it make sense to have 15 or 20 parks when realistically we could probably look at a good eight to 10?
“We’re doing things that probably should have been done years ago.”
Foltz said the parks department could look at other ways to raise revenue, such as user fees, which some parks departments in the state are turning to.
“We have some things in place that already generate revenue,” he said. “You have to look at ways to try to raise the revenue.”
In the end, Graham said, the cuts to the parks department came as other needs were considered higher priorities.
“There’s no question that parks are part of the quality of life, but so is trying to find jobs for people who live here and trying to maintain public safety,” he said.
Contact Aleasha Sandley: 640-4805, aleasha.sandley@heraldbulletin.com.
