When the South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District goes to voters in February for a renewal of its levy, it won’t be asking for an increase.
The district doesn’t need the money.
Balancing revenues — from the levy, paid programs and concession income — with expenses, the budget approved Wednesday will leave the district with a $158,864 surplus in 2010. That’s on top of an estimated $225,822 surplus for this year.
“We didn’t spend as much money this year as we thought we would,” said board chairwoman Linda Kast. “And because of the way tax revenue is based on the rise and fall of county property values, we ended up with more income.”
She noted that taxing districts can request no more than a 1 percent increase, but the parks board declined to do that this year.
“We decided there was no special need,” Kast said.
Since its inception, the parks district has maintained a steady rate of 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The current levy runs to the end of December 2010; if voters approve, the new two-year levy will kick in January 2011.
Administrative costs are projected to rise about $95,000 in the two-year period from 2008 to 2010, mainly due to higher salaries, a change in how salaries are posted and increased costs for health and liability insurance.
Program director Carrie Monforte’s salary is now listed with those of director Terri Arnold, administrator Peggy Hockett, maintenance supervisor Tom Fallon and staff and a part-time staffer for a total of $265,000. That amount is a 22-percent increase over 2008 and includes both a cost-of-living raise and a 3-percent merit raise for all employees.
Total projected parks district revenue for 2010 — including rollover cash — is $1,072,937. Total projected expenses are $722,059.
The district hopes to have an ending reserve balance of $216,166.
At 7 p.m. Tuesday,
Dec. 1, the parks board will make decisions on a levy committee as well as how much the district will ask for next year.
“Do we want to continue with the 15 cent rate?” Kast asked. “But if values continue to drop and stay there, our future income could drop. And we have some projects, such as a desperately needed maintenance shed, that needs to be funded.”
The vote to approve the budget wasn’t unanimous.
Parks Commissioner Allison Tapert voted no because she isn’t comfortable with the numbers in the budget.
“Our budget has grown by nearly $300,000 in two years,” Tapert said. “That’s a lot of money at a time when many people are really struggling financially.”
Tapert said the district is receiving more money from the taxpayers than it needs.
“At our levy workshop on Dec. 1, I will be proposing that we either lower the levy rate or help Island County by taking on some of its parks,” she said.
“I also have reservations about the maintenance facility,” she said. “When we originally discussed building a maintenance facility it was to accommodate the addition of three new properties that the county asked us to take over, at Goss, Lone and Deer lakes.”
“We did not acquire those properties, yet we are moving forward on the building.”
Kast said that Tapert’s concerns will be addressed when the board meets to determine the best campaign strategy for the February vote.
Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or jvanderford@southwhidbey
record.com.
