City staff brief PRAB on parks budget, dedicated funds and upcoming ballot options

City budget staff and the parks director gave PRAB an extended briefing on the department’s funding structure, capital plan and long-term finance work. Jackson Haidt, who leads business services for the department, described the department’s major funds and their typical uses.

Jackson said the permanent parks and recreation fund is a dedicated property-tax source used primarily for capital projects; he noted the fund’s current annual projected revenue for 2025 is about $4.4 million with planned expenses around $3.4 million in that year. "This is our dedicated property tax... 0.9 mills," Jackson said, explaining that legal restrictions limit how those dollars may be used.

Staff described other major sources: the recreation activity fund (a quasi-enterprise fund covering user fees and program revenues), the city general fund (which provides a recurring subsidy to recreation operations), the state lottery allocation (previously split among several departments and now identified as a multi‑year allocation to parks for capital projects) and a local 0.25% sales tax dedicated to parks operations and some capital uses.

Staff flagged two finance items for PRAB attention in the coming months. First, the department is participating in the city’s long-term financial strategy, which includes potential ballot measures to secure multiyear funding for capital needs. Second, staff described two possible ballot topics under consideration citywide: extending or altering an existing community tax (the CCRS measure) for long-term capital projects, and a proposal to broaden the permanent parks fund’s allowable uses and consider a change in mills. Staff said details and formal proposals remain under development.

Why it matters: Parks leaders told PRAB that capital demands and cost escalation are outpacing current revenue streams; the department and the city’s budget team are evaluating multiyear options, including taxes or measure strategies, to preserve service levels and fund major projects.

Ending: PRAB members were told the department will return with detailed budget materials and project proposals during the formal budget cycle and that April and July meetings will include deeper discussion and requests for formal recommendations.