SIMI VALLEY : Park District Could Lose $322,000

Anticipated state budget cuts could cause the district to lose $322,000 in the 1992-93 fiscal year, according to a Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District official.

General Manager Jerry Gladden told the board that the latest news from Sacramento indicates the district could lose about 4% of its $8.2 million in projected general fund revenues for the year that began July 1.

Even without state funding cuts, “this is our tightest budget in approximately 10 years,” Gladden said at a meeting last week.

Because of the slowdown in new development due to the recession, the amount of property taxes paid to the park district, which is its main source of income, are projected to increase by only about $200,000 next year to $4.3 million.

Likewise, developers’ fees are expected to drop from $200,000 to $130,000, officials said.

To reduce expenses this year, the board is considering establishing a hiring freeze for park maintenance staff, which would leave four positions vacant.

“We’d better be prepared, because park maintenance may suffer as a result,” Gladden said.

So far, the park district has coped with the recession by reducing operating expenses without cutting back on recreation programs, Gladden said.

Despite the tight budget for next year, park officials will be able to proceed with plans to build a bike trail along the Arroyo Simi flood channel.

The district received $547,200 in state and federal grants for the trail.

A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held at 7 p.m. on July 23 at Mae Boyar Park in Oak Park.