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Parks department funding discussed during budget work session
City Manager Mark Mitchell said it will take $1.2 million to operate the parks department, which after four years, now has a reserve fund.
The department has two main sources of revenue: a half-cent park sales tax, which generates from $900,000 to $1 million annually and the cigarette tax, which is budgeted to bring in $60,000. Other revenue comes from fees, events and tournaments.
“So the parks department has to make up about $200,000 in fees to be able to function,” Mitchell said.
Later during the meeting, Mitchell said the city budgets for $28,000 to $30,000 in revenue from fees.
Mitchell said the park board has approved new fees for city amenities. The new fees are included in the 2024 budget.
Mitchell pointed since the city leases the golf course to Maxim Golf Solutions, it no longer collects golf fees. However, the city has access to the golf course’s budget and can view the golf course’s bank account.
Later, when going through expenses, Mitchell said the golf course has requested some equipment, which would stay in Nevada as the city would own. That includes a sprayer, spreader and utility cart.
Mitchell said the parks fund ran in the red for four years, but now there is a $400,000 in reserve, because of the golf course lease and no pool expenses.
The budget also includes a $90,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Conservation. Mitchell said the city received one grant and will apply for another in 2024.
Mitchell said some money is being taken from the parks construction fund, which has about $270,000. Of that, $50,000 has been earmarked for Earp Park and trails, which is covered in the companion language for the sales tax ballot.
City Treasurer Bill Denman said there has been $275,000 sitting in the parks construction fund since 2010, but it will take money to drain the lake and complete all the planned projects.
Mitchell said the budget also includes $75,000 to contract mowing at the parks.
“And it’s still cheaper contracted than us buying lawn mowers and paying employees,” Mitchell said.
As for larger expenses, Mitchell said they are looking at purchasing a front loader tractor to work in the parks and golf course and additional bathrooms and playground equipment. The budget also includes replacing some equipment at the community center, such as a floor scrubber.
Mitchell said there is nothing budgeted for the swimming pool. Mitchell said they are researching options, from repairing the existing pool, to the cost of a square pool and adding a splash pad.
Mayor Kendall Vickers asked if the city would be able to handle any additional recreational amenity, such as a pickle ball court, if it was given to the city.
“Our fees do not generate enough revenue to cover our expenses,” Mitchell said. “Never have.”
He said the city has had to make up about $150,000 from the parks fund to operate the pool.
“We’re struggling to find a funding source for it,” Mitchell said. “We don’t have any more taxes.”
Vickers asked about the possibility of a bond issue for the pool. Denman said when the sales tax issue was passed, the real estate property tax was “rolled back.” A bond issue would most likely place additional mills on that tax.
“As a council, we have to do something,” Commissioner Carol Braham said. “We have to do something for our kids.”
She said parks sales tax was passed for the hometown kids, not just kids coming from out of town to play in tournaments.
Denman said if the parks real estate tax was reimplemented, the revenue would be from $100,000 to $150,000 annually.
Mitchell said they would research the idea of a bond issue.
The commissioners will have the first reading on the proposed budget on Dec. 2, with final reading and possible adoption on Dec. 19.