Recreation, Park Board Increases Budget by 2%

The Conejo Recreation and Park District’s Board of Directors has adopted a new operating budget totaling slightly more than $9.1 million.

That is a 2% increase over fiscal year 1996-97, according to Tex Ward, park district general manager.

“[This] budget continues the conservative approach the district has taken in response to the loss of property tax revenue,” Ward said.

Ward said the district has had to accommodate a six-year loss of more than $5 million in shifted property taxes and has been forced to endure “severe cost-cutting strategies.”

Over the past half decade, Ward said, full-time positions have been reduced from 103 to 74. The 1997-98 budget will allow for one more position in the parks and planning division.

Because of the reduction in the work force, Ward said, the district’s operating hours have been reduced, recreation programs that are not self-supporting have been cut, and response to nonemergency, or nonessential repairs has been delayed or postponed.

Continued deferral of certain services could be detrimental to the district, Ward warned. For instance, the district is needs to upgrade data processing capabilities, at a price tag of $50,000 over four years, and needs to replace outdated and unsafe equipment totaling $42,000.

Because property tax revenues, which make up 73% of the district’s revenues, are not growing, the budget relies more heavily on savings and carry-over funds to balance out, Ward said. He added that the recreation division has increased revenue by raising fees and receiving two grants.