The Trenton Park Board reviewed its proposed 2006-2007 budget during a meeting Wednesday evening and agreed to seek bids for the third time for a restroom facility at the Ebbe Sports Complex as well as simultaneously advertising for an employee to construct the building as an alternative to accepting a bid.
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The Trenton Park Board reviewed its proposed 2006-2007 budget during a meeting Wednesday evening and agreed to seek bids for the third time for a restroom facility at the Ebbe Sports Complex as well as simultaneously advertising for an employee to construct the building as an alternative to accepting a bid.
The 2006-2007 budget shows a negative balance when looking at revenues versus expenditures, but board members said that rather than carry a large fund balance they would prefer to budget some of that money to be spent in the park system. Projected revenues for the park system department total $660,650, while expenditures total $761,083, leaving a deficit of $100,433 which will be taken from the fund balance of $238,000, leaving a projected fund balance at the end of the year of about $138,000. These figures will change slightly after all the changes are made to adjustments in labor costs for FICA, LAGERS and workmen’s compensation.
On the revenue side, the budget shows $325,000 in sales tax revenue and a $100,000 transfer from the General Fund, which is funds that should be received by the department as reimbursement for hail damage to park property. The park department performed most of its own repairs and was able to save a substantial amount. Other significant income includes $77,000 in ad valorem taxes, $51,500 in pool receipts, a $40,000 transfer from the Ebbe Fund to help construct the restroom facility at the Ebbe Sports Complex and about $13,500 from TBA Concessions.
On the expenditure side, the largest expenditure is the $147,316 payment on the aquatic center, with another $120,000 placed in a fund for capital projects. Of that amount, $80,000 will be spent for the restroom facility, $25,000 will be placed in a fund for the skate park and $20,000 is for undesignated projects.
Approximately $62,000 is budgeted for labor, with Park Superintendent Jason Shuler receiving a 5 percent increase bringing his salary to approximately $38,062.50. Park Board Vice President Chuck Lankheit said this morning that Shuler had only included a 3 percent raise for himself in the budget, but board members felt that due to his outstanding job performance and the large amount of money that his expertise and abilities saves the department, a higher increase was warranted. Full-time employee Josh Eaton received a 25-cent per hour raise and will be making $11.15 per hour.
A total of $13,700 is budgeted for equipment, which includes an upgrade to the Grasshopper mower, which is on a three-year rotation, as well as an upgrade to the Ford tractor and a sweeper attachment that can be used to sweep the parking lots and walking trail. By having the sweeper, the department will be able to clean and seal the walking trail without hiring an outside company to perform the work.
Improvements to Gladys Grimes Park at Lake Trenton are budgeted at $14,600, which includes a $5,000 grant from ConAgra Foods to purchase new equipment at the park. A total of $9,100 is budgeted for improvements to Van Meter Park, where grading will be performed and dugouts and bleachers will be added in order to hold midget league TBA games.
Pool wages are budgeted at $55,000, with utilities budgeted at $12,750, concessions at $12,500 and supplies at $12,250. In discussing the pool, it was noted that total expenditures last year totaled $91,305, not including the $138,000 payment. With income totaling $65,812.51, it cost the department about $25,500 to operate the pool. Board members noted that they feel it is worth that amount to offer the aquatic center to the community and to bring persons into Trenton who might not otherwise be here. The economic impact of the pool also extended to the amount of wages pumped into the economy, with $58,717.06 being paid to employees last summer. Board members said they cannot charge enough to make the aquatic center break even and City Administrator Kerry Sampson said he has never been in a city where the pool actually made money.
The final budget figures will be approved at the April meeting.
The board voted to seek bids for the restroom facility for the third time, but to also simultaneously advertise for an employee that could construct the building himself, allowing the city to not have to pay prevailing wage. Board members discussed the perception that the restroom facility is too expensive and that maybe it does not have to be so large. Lankheit said it does not make sense to be “penny-wise and pound-foolish” when constructing the facility, noting that it makes more sense to construct a facility that is large enough to meet the needs when there are tournaments and other events held at the facility. City Council members Jackie Soptic, first ward; Steve Perry, second ward; and Ed Holt, third ward, were at the meeting. Mrs. Soptic said she wanted to make sure the board knows she is supportive of the restroom project and said she would like to know if there are ways the various city departments can provide assistance. Shuler said the TMU electric department has been very helpful and said the real problem comes when the park department needs help and other departments are too busy to provide it.
A discussion was also held concerning the utilities at the ballpark and whether or not the department is getting the best utility rate possible. It was noted that something needs to be done to stop the problem of lights being left on at the ballfields or having just a few people on the field during times when lights are needed. The board discussed the possibility of putting some type of lock on the lights to alleviate the problem.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 5.