PARKS
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 effective January 1, 2024 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 decrease $3,468. FY 22 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 23 Adopted or the FY 24 Proposed budgets, but deductions will be made at the conclusion of the festivals. Allocations for retirement, and worker’s compensation increase, while the allocation for health insurance decreases. No funding has been included for retiree health. Unemployment has been funded at $5,000 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 24. Funded projects include: 130th Street median planting bed improvements, $10,500; Northside Park pathway improvements, $43,000; Northside Park pier piling caps, $18,000; and additional artificial turf for the dog playground, $51,000. Other funded items include annual clay court reconditioning, $7,000, planting bed maintenance at the 2nd street Tram station, $6,850, planting bed maintenance at the Downtown Recreation complex, $8,500 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 second 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 24. Supplies include athletic field supplies, landscaping supplies, and general maintenance supplies. Supplies to resurface the 94th street basketball courts have been included at $5,000. Replacements of a self-propelled lawn/litter vacuum, $3,000 has also been funded. Special Appropriations reflects the budget for requests from the Beautification Committee. Energy costs are expected to remain the same. Projected costs for vehicle fuel increase, while the estimates for vehicle maintenance remain the same. Allocations for Vehicle Lease, radio equipment lease, and insurance decrease for this division. Replacement of the Little Salisbury Park playground is shown in Parks, but funded through fund balance.