Proposed 2010 Parks Budget Would Be Smaller, Keep 36 Vacancies
The following article by Cristof Traudes was published in the Southwest Journal:
PROPOSED 2010 PARKS BUDGET WOULD BE SMALLER, KEEP 36 VACANCIES
Because of the economy and cuts to local-government aid, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s 2010 budget looks like it will shrink from 2009.
In a proposal by Superintendent Jon Gurban, unveiled Oct. 21, about 36 already empty positions would continue to remain vacant. That amounts to a 7 percent drop in Park Board personnel from the 2009 budget. But it also avoids layoffs, Gurban said, unless a vacancy begins to create serious problems. If one department needs to hire more personnel, other departments might have to absorb a hit — but that would only happen “if things change dramatically,” he said.
The board is expecting an additional $1.8 million generated from property taxes. That’s offset, however, by a $2.4 million cut to local-government aid. With a 16.5 percent increase in health-care costs also expected, the board’s budget would actually end up about half a percent smaller than in 2009.
Gurban also laid out several strategies for 2010, including no fee increases, generating more revenue from the annual Minneapolis Bike Tour and improving the parks’ parking systems — a change that’s estimated to bring in $75,000 in new revenue. Gurban also suggested continuing to seek enactment of the long-in-development park dedication fee, which would charge developers to create or manage green space.
The board will take public input on the budget during a 5 p.m. meeting Nov. 18 at its headquarters, 2117 W. River Road. Adoption of the budget is expected on Dec. 7.