PARKS

TOWN OF OCEAN CITY

FISCAL YEAR 2025 PROPOSED BUDGET

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BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS:

PERSONNEL CHANGES:

Eighteen full-time positions are funded in this department. Reorganizations since FY 09 eliminated the Assistant Superintendent and Arborist positions, replacing them with two Supervisor positions, and reduced the number of Parks Workers from thirteen to eight. Five Crew Leader positions were added and the Landscaper position was converted to a ninth Parks Worker position. Wage adjustments include a step increase and a 3% COLA effective January 1, 2025 for full-time employees. Three part-time employees are funded from April through October, with a fourth employee funded for October and part of November. Wage adjustments as a result of pay table adjustments have been applied. Projected overtime costs increase $4,990. FY 23 labor costs appear to be lower because deductions were made for labor charged to the Town festivals. No labor deductions were included in the FY 24 Adopted or the FY 25 Proposed budgets, but deductions will be made at the conclusion of the festivals. Allocations for health insurance and retirement increase, while the allocation for worker’s compensation decreases slightly. No funding has been included for retiree health. Unemployment has been funded at $6,000 for this department.

CHANGES IN OPERATIONS:

Contracted Services in this division include maintenance for the parks and landscaping throughout the Town. Contract mowing of city-owned median strips, bulkheads, undeveloped lots, etc. has been included at $18,400 in FY 25. Funded Northside Park projects include: pathway pavement Master Plan, $58,000; West Lagoon field irrigation repairs, $14,000; fitness equipment surface patching/sealing, $12,500; and shelter concrete apron and pavers for drainage, $15,000. Planting bed maintenance at the Downtown Recreation complex has been funded at $17,000. Other funded items include annual clay court reconditioning, $7,700, planting bed maintenance at the 2nd street Tram station, $6,850, and bay cleaning on Ocean Drive, $4,400. Other routine maintenance items have also been funded. Training costs are also included in Contracted Services and include attendance at the Sports Turf Management association conference for the Superintendent, the first year of Maintenance Management School, the second year of Supervisor’s Management School and Playground re-certification. Normal material and supply costs have been budgeted for FY 25. Supplies include athletic field supplies, landscaping supplies, and general maintenance supplies. A 40-yard dumpster for Northside Park has been funded at $11,500 and an AED for the softball complex has been included at $3,250. Special Appropriations reflects the budget for requests from the Beautification Committee. Energy costs are expected to decrease. Projected costs for vehicle fuel and vehicle maintenance increase. Allocations for Vehicle Lease, radio equipment lease, and IT Services increase for this division. The insurance allocation decreases. The basketball court/pickleball court project at Little Salisbury park has been funded at $240,100.