A.G. Gancarski
The parade of departmental budget reviews in Jacksonville’s Mayor’s Office continued Wednesday with a consideration of budgets for the Parks and Recreation Department.
As ever, these reviews are conducted by Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa and CFO Mike Weinstein.
Among the highlights from Parks: a dive into the Hemming Park allocation, a discussion of water taxis, the municipal First Tee golf course, and the Equestrian Center.
Over the course of the over two-hour discussion, what was clear here was clear in the other budget discussions: legacy costs are cutting into current expenditures, in ways that most never see.
- A discussion of the cremation of the indigent. Apparently, Parks does not pay the $50 fee for approval from the medical examiner; the money comes out of the general fund. The policy, regarding indigent cases, is cremation only. Thus, cremation of the indigent is revenue neutral. “It’s the same pot of money,” said Mousa. Last year, there were roughly 375 cremations.
- Unfunded liability in Parks pensions is up $186,000.
- St. Johns River Taxis were the first point of general interest. A two-year agreement at $120,000 a year in city matching funds was approved last year. Funding was provided for year one, and year two funding is needed. There is a still an operating deficit, said Heather Surface, even as ridership is slowly increasing as the water taxi service diversifies its offerings beyond just crossing the river. They “continue to struggle with ridership,” with half a million dollars of operating costs and a quarter million dollars of rider revenues.
- Surface would like to see JTA support, “in kind and otherwise,” and notes most successful water taxis have public funding support.
- The water taxis will be “on the shortlist for additional consideration by the mayor,” said Mousa.
- First Tee, operating the municipal Brentwood golf course, has been operating at a deficit since 2000. A projected loss of $100,000 next year is expected. First Tee wants to see its allocation bumped up, and can no longer operate the facility at a loss. There were 50,000 children serviced last year. Donors are looking at the financials and are no longer willing to support a facility that is losing money. First Tee gets $100,000 for maintenance from the Parks budget; First Tee would like another $100,000 allocated from the city for operations.
- There is a contract with First Tee until 2020; this contract has not been reviewed since 2008 by either First Tee or the city.
- First Tee spends roughly half a million dollars in maintenance, claims its rep on hand.
- “Knowing what’s coming across our desk and knowing that we already own four golf courses,” Weinstein is pessimistic this ask can “compete” with other general fund requests. Money could come from Journey funds, or funds from the Jacksonville Children’s Commission.
- “First Tee on the short list. No dollar value,” said Mousa.
- Weinstein is skeptical that the city should be in the golf course business. Mousa notes “most of them aren’t making any money.” That said, Mousa will help them chase some funding opportunities.
- The Equestrian Center came up, showing $385,000 of revenue; $529,000 of a city subsidy. The ask this year: a total of $402,000, a reduction from a year before, with $299,852 for operating costs, the balance for utilities.
- The appropriation for the Equestrian Center is on a year-to-year basis.
- Hemming Park came up next. Park operators are asking for $375,000 to provide basic baseline operating costs, says Vince Cavin, to help bring as many people as possible into the park on a regular basis.
- Cavin itemized the expenses of the park at some length.
- There would also be an ask for $125,000 in matching funds, which would help with recruiting sponsorships and donations. There is, also, “trouble on the weekends” in terms of security, which could be helped with funds for weekend security.
- “$375 minimum. If you don’t raise one and a quarter, we don’t give you one and a quarter,” said Mousa
- Total fundraising expected by Cavin: $300,000.
- Weinstein recommends $375,000 to meet minimums, or $250K firm and $250K match, with the latter giving Friends of Hemming incentive to meet their fundraising goals.
- Ali Korman Shelton is “concerned about the plan,” or lack thereof.
- “Have you given any thought to having a fundraiser? You need capital. You’re not well-capitalized,” said Mousa, who recommends a staff reduction in favor of a fundraising specialist. A suggestions that fundraiser could get a “cut” from Mousa got a response from Cavin to the effect that some people say it’s “unethical.”
- Bill Prescott from the board of Hemming Park is recoiling at the choice Weinstein presented, refusing to choose between $375K guaranteed and the match proposal.
- COS Kerri Stewart votes for $250 and $250, saying it gives them more “skin in the game.” Weinstein says that if you “don’t choose that, you’re implying you can’t make it. Without raising money outside, it’s never going to be successful.”
- John Pappas of Public Works likes the “incentive” as well.
- And Mousa likes the $250 and $250, noting the incentive to raise more money, noting all of this is “strictly a recommendation to the mayor” and “the mayor’s agreed to nothing” as of yet.
- “If you go out and show you can raise a quarter-million to match our quarter-million, it gives a lot of credibility to your group,” Mousa said.
