It might be a small surplus, but the Trenton Park Board approved its 2018-2019 budget Wednesday evening that shows more revenue than expenses.
The budget, approved unanimously, shows total revenue from the park and aquatic center estimated at $552,800 and total anticipated expenditures of $552,764.16 for a projected surplus of $35.84. The budget includes a 50-cent per hour salary increase for both Park Superintendent Jason Shuler and the other full-time park employee, David Shockley, which is in line with raises that will be received by other city employees. With their salaries figured on 2,080 hours per year, Shuler’s salary for the coming year will be $47,334, with Shockley’s compensation set at $30,160.
The board had earlier approved 25-cent per hour increases for returning part-time park and pool employees. Salaries will account for $77,494 in expenditures, with another $22,000 budgeted for part-time wages. Health insurance for the two full-time employees are budgeted at $17,697, LAGERS (retirement) is listed at $9,842, FICA at $7,803 and overtime at $2,500.
The board has budgeted $29,300 for capital expenditures, with the exact distribution of those funds yet to be determined. Board members looked at a list of projects that are scheduled for this year. The aquatic center is slated to receive new floating lily pads, with that amount not yet determined. Other large expenditures include $20,600 to be spent at Moberly Park, including $12,000 to remove the play structure in the lower part of the park and replace it with a new one. The exact amounts for sealing of the parking lot at Eastside Park and making some minor improvements to the restrooms at Burleigh Grimes Field are also not yet determined, but will be spent from the amount set aside for capital improvements. A total of $10,000 is included for sealing and repair of the walking trail.
In other expenditures, the board has budgeted $10,000 to repay one-half of the amount borrowed from the Ebbe Fund to install a tube at Moberly Park to remedy a drainage issue. A total of $24,500 is budgeted for park utilities (not including the aquatic center), an amount that is an increase from $23,760 last year.
On the aquatic center side of the budget, a total of $52,000 is budgeted for part-time employees, with $17,000 budgeted for supplies and $26,000 budgeted for utilities, an increase of $6,000 over what was budgeted last year. Also included in total pool expenditures of $261,803 is a $146,588 payment on the aquatic center.
On the revenue side, the largest amount, $370,000, is anticipated to come from sales tax revenue, which is the same amount budgeted last year. The ad valorem tax is expected to bring in $88,500. Pool income is listed at $53,500, with pool concessions budgeted at $13,250. Ballfield concessions are expected to total about $11,000.
The new budget will go into effect May 1.
Board members reviewed a list of projects that were approved with the 2017-2018 budget, with nearly all of them completed or in progress. A list of projects for the 2018-2019 budget year was included as part of the new budget and will be updated with completion dates as that occurs.
Board members gave approval for the Trenton Summer Soccer Stars program to practice and play games on Old Griffin Field. Sarah Allen, a park board member and one of the program’s organizers, said games will be played as they have been in the past, on the four Sundays in June. Forms are being sent home to area school children, with registration to take place through April 16. Participants must be four years old by May 1 and are eligible to play through eighth grade. The soccer club will pay for the paint for the fields, with the park department to do the actual painting of the lines.
Board member Gary Schuett gave an update on the two trees donated by Bill Bear of Rosemary Hill Tree Farm for Arbor Day as well as other trees that are being planted in the park system and in containers for the nursery. Board members accepted the low bid of $2,730 from Custom Tree Care for removal of 42 stumps of varying size from Eastside and Moberly parks and two at Gladys Grimes Park.
In his report, Shuler thanked the Trenton Municipal Utilities electric crew for installing a meter base and outlet box for the Moberly Park batting cage and the TMU water/wastewater distribution crew for repairing a water line between the Eastside parking lot and Burleigh Grimes Field and a storm drain line behind the field.
The next regular meeting of the board is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2.
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