Belgrade parks board approves $10,000 shift to fund two local festivals

The Belgrade Regional Parks, Trails and Recreation District board approved a fiscal-year 2027 budget adjustment to move $10,000 into the district
grants line so the Festival of Lights and the Fall Festival each receive $5,000.

The motion was introduced during the discussion agenda and addresses a staff request to shift monetary contributions that previously sat in the city
general fund into the Parks District budget. Staff said the change is designed to preserve local event funding if the city increases contributions to social-service programs that would otherwise draw from the same general-fund pool.

Parks staff member (S2) summarized the proposal, saying, "That is $5,000 each for the Festival of Lights and $5,000 for the Fall Festival," and explained the adjustment preserves support for the events while allowing the city to consider expanded funding for social services.

A board member raised concerns that the change effectively moves existing city money rather than creates new revenue. Committee member (S6) called it, in part, "moving money around" and said he did not want the parks district
to appear to be taking credit for longstanding city contributions. Staff responded that the board could request explicit recognition on event promotional materials to clarify the district's role.

Committee member (S6) moved to approve the budget adjustment; a second was recorded and the motion passed by voice vote. Staff said the change does not require drawing down a specific existing program because projections still show cash remaining versus expenditures; it increases total expenditures for the year and will be included as part of the budget materials moving to city council.

Staff noted one outstanding figure mentioned during questions: a requested increase to the Human Resources Development Council (HRDC) budget that staff said might be around $80,000 but that amount was not confirmed and "will come out in our budget meetings in the next two months." The district will notify the executive director of financial services as directed.

The board did not specify a formal implementation timeline beyond incorporation into the FY27 budget process and staff follow-up.

What happens next: staff will inform the executive director of financial services of the board
saction and the FY27 budget will proceed to city council and the county commission for review as part of the regular budget cycle.