Park & Rec District makes deep cuts

The Sisters Park & Recreation District has laid off staff in an effort to overcome an approximately $150,000 deficit in its $650,000 annual budget.

At a special board meeting Friday, May 28, the Sisters Park & Recreation Board of Directors adopted an operating plan to work through the end of the fiscal year, June 30. After cuts, the district is forecasting a deficit of $61,000 this year.

SPRD has a tax base of 22 cents per $1,000 in assessed property valuation, which accounts for $200,000 of its operating budget.

SPRD Executive Director Carrie Ward told a "brown bag" gathering at the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday that the deficit reflects a decline in revenues from programs and a falloff in donations to the program.

"The overriding reason is the recession," Ward told the group of interested citizens. "Families just don't have a lot of discretionary income for that sort of thing."

According to Ward, three full-time staff members have been laid off. Two other full-time staff are now working half-time, leaving only three full-time staff out of a staff of eight. The board has also taken measures to cut costs in all areas of the organization including health insurance benefits, facility maintenance and program expenses.

"The board has made the priority of maintaining youth programs first and foremost," Ward said.

However, the district's preschool program has been dropped.

Feedback from users has indicated that after-school programs for children and teens remains important.

"I think (SPRD) is still the primary source of activities for elementary school and middle school (children)," said Marie Clasen, who was a founding board member of the district (then SOAR).

The board hopes to maintain youth services this spring such as the after-school program, youth sports, gymnastics classes and teen programs.

A variety of other adult spring programs are planned, and if enough people pre-register for programs they will be held, Ward reported. Adult programs this spring include: Fly-tying classes, gardening workshops, group fitness classes, adult softball league and co-ed soccer.

Clasen and Sharlene Weed, a city councilor and executive director of Sisters Habitat for Humanity, expressed concern about the future of Head Start early childhood educational programs at SPRD. Currently there are 18 Head Start slots; nine are federally funded and the other nine are available to the public on a tuition basis.

Ward said Head Start will continue through spring.

"Then what?" Weed asked. "Then what happens to Head Start?"

"We don't know," Ward replied.

The brown bag group discussed whether SPRD might launch a crisis campaign to secure donations to stay afloat. Ward said that individual donations have declined from an average $80,000 to $35,000 for the current fiscal year.

Weed said that the district will have to show potential donors that it has a future before they will support the organization in troubled times.

"Does your board have a plan?" she said. "Tell me your plan and I'll jump right in and help out. But if there's not a plan, I'd be hesitant."

Ward reports that a budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year is being prepared. The district's ability to continue to operate is dependent on restructuring its debt and additional fund-raising.

On April 27, at 5:30 p.m., the district will host a public meeting to discuss the district financial conditions and gather public thoughts and ideas about district services and priorities. Everyone in the Sisters Park and Recreation District is invited to attend. Citizens may also submit comments and ideas by calling Carrie Ward, SPRD Executive Director at 549-2091, or e-mail to [email protected]