COLUMBUS -- The proposed 2008-09 parks department budget is close to $1.3 million with $489,775 allocated for personnel services and $640,500 going to capital improvements.
The increase from the 2007-08 estimated expenditure of $1.1 includes $260,425 in proposed capital improvements.
The department anticipates $586,650 in revenue consisting of $92,250 in state and federal grants for the Columbus Community Hospital lake improvement project and $297,000 from financing sources such as Keno funds and the Gerrard Park Trust.
The remainder of the $685,015 budget would come from $316,765 in general fund dollars and $368,250 in sales tax dollars for a portion of the capital improvement projects.
Doug Moore, parks supervisor, said parks contribute to the quality of life for residents of the Columbus area and each year it is a balancing act of meeting the public’s expectations and being financially responsible with taxpayer money.
“We try to make sure everyone gets the best of what we can provide,” Moore said. “We do the best we can with what we have,” which has become more demanding in recent years.
Last year, one part-time employee and a seasonal employee were cut from the parks budget and a new park was opened, Moore said, and with two more parks expected to be open within the next few years it will stretch staff even more.
Property Superintendent Mark Kudron said installing field lights at the Gerrard Park softball complex for $125,000 was requested by the Columbus Softball Association. Currently, three fields have lights and lights would be installed at the three remaining fields.
The park board and departmental support the proposal because it would provide more flexibility in scheduling practices and games, especially since Central Community College-Columbus added its softball program. Kudron said and there would be a greater chance Columbus could host tournaments.
“We hope to be able to have more tournaments, which would bring more people to Columbus,” he said, bringing in more tourism revenue for the municipal golf courses and Pawnee Plunge Water Parks.
To attract more golfers, Larry Hergott, superintendent of the golf course , said “appearance is a big deal on a golf course.”
Quail Run Golf Course is requesting $140,200 in capital improvement items, which includes $9,000 in cart path repairs, $9,000 for fans for greens on the course and $2,000 for a storage shed. Hergott said the fans help air circulation for grass on the greens and should prevent total replacement of the greens, which is estimated at $50,000 per green. The storage shed should increase the longevity of equipment.
The largest item, $56,700 for 20 new golf carts, was committed to during the 2007-08 year when the city approved 40 new golf carts to be purchased in two phases.
“Golf is down industry wide,” Hergott said, but the course is open whether people come out or not.
The actual and estimated revenues from Quail Run and Van Berg, respectively, are $24,060 below and $187 above the budgeted 2007-08 levels, which are $394,970 and $80,00 respectively.
The 2008-09 budget proposal projects revenues of $374,050 from Quail and $83,550 from Van Berg. Budgeted expenditures are $626,070 and $205,151 respectively.
The proposed contribution from the general fund to the courses is approximately $88,000 for each course and $167,700 in capital improvement projects for the combined courses.
Hergott said a significant factor in revenue is the weather. If a league night is rained out the course may lose more than 100 golfers and thousands in potential revenue, he said.
Kudron said, “Whether it is 10 or 100 on the golf course (or) 100 or 1,000 at Pawnee Plunge, the staff has to maintain those facilities.”
The actual and estimated revenues from Pawnee Plunge and the Aquatic Center, respectively, are $7,500 and $3,500 below the 2007-08 budget allocations of $292,000 and $83,500 respectively.
The Pawnee Plunge Water Park saw a trend of declining revenue, partially because the “newness” is wearing off, Kudron said, and partially because weather patterns that deterred attendance.
Brook Tompka, aquatics manager, said, just like the golf course, even if conditions are not perfect the Pawnee Plunge facility remains open in case conditions improve.
The Pawnee Plunge and Aquatics Center show proposed budgets of $614,115 and $367,425 respectively.
Plunge revenue is projected at $290,500 from season and daily passes and concessions. Aquatic Center revenue is projected at $66,050 for season and daily passes. The significant portion of shortfalls in those budgets is supported by the one-half cent sales tax approved by voters with Pawnee Plunge projected to receive $321,615 and the Aquatic Center at $283,375.
Tompka said it is important to support both facilities because they help people maintain health and fitness and the Aquatic Center provides a facility for people who may have difficulty with joints or mobility to exercise.
She also said potential residents have visited the Aquatic Center and Pawnee Plunge to see the facilities, which may play a factor in helping them determine to relocate to Columbus.
Kudron said the parks, golf and aquatics departments are nothing anyone needs to survive, but that the facilities contribute to the joy of living in the community and along with the parks are items people consider when relocating.
“The public wants nice parks, nice places to play,” he said, “In order for people to enjoy living here and want to live here.”
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