Changes underway at SPRD

Last updated Apr 17, 2018 12:0pm0

More is changing at Sisters Park & Recreation District than the arrival of a new executive director. Adult/Senior Program Coordinator Shannon Rackowski has tendered her resignation effective in May.

According to SPRD Board Chair Bob Keefer, "Shannon has submitted her resignation of her current position effective in May. It was her decision to leave."

When contacted by The Nugget, Keefer said he had not seen the resignation letter.

Rackowski provided her resignation letter and a statement to The Nugget: "I would like to thank all my co-workers, and Kris Harwell, Interim Executive Director, for the great working relationship that was shared at SPRD. I wanted to move forward with Kris Harwell at the helm, and that was not to be. I wish SPRD all the best in their future endeavors. Mahalo, Shannon."

"We'd love to have her stay. We have nothing but appreciation for all she's done," Keefer said.

Keefer went on to say, "From the board's point of view, there is no animosity. We would welcome Shannon to work as a contracted instructor in our programs."

The point was made by Keefer that the SPRD staff has experienced "a lot of turnover because of having to do a lot with a little." He explained the only employee directly supervised by the board is the executive director, who in turn is responsible for hiring and supervising all the other employees.

"The board tries not to get down into the depths of the organization," he explained.

The new executive director, Todd Garrett, is scheduled to take his position at SPRD in May. Until that time, Kris Harwell, who has been the SPRD finance director for the past four-and-a-half years, will continue as the interim executive director, a role she assumed when then-executive director Liam Hughes left to take a position in Pendleton.

SPRD is hoping to strengthen its financial situation with passage of a local option levy on the May 15 ballot, asking voters to approve a five-year levy for an additional 15 cents per $1,000 of a home's assessed value. The current tax rate of 22 cents per $1,000 has been the same since the district was established 20 years ago in 1998. (See sidebar.)

Despite its small tax base, in February the Special Districts Association of Oregon presented SPRD with the Outstanding Special District Program Award. This award recognizes member districts for their accomplishments that allow them to provide better service to the public. SPRD's operating over 10 special events and tournaments a year has helped provide needed funding to provide more services to the community.

Over the past 20 years, SPRD has expanded from essentially an after-school program to a district with 11 full-time employees and a budget of over $1.35 million running 100 programs, five parks, and a community center with no increase in tax rate since its inception.

SPRD seeks to improve finances

In Sisters, the assessed value is usually quite a bit lower than the market value of a home (what an owner could expect to get for selling his home) and is determined by the Deschutes County Tax Assessor. If the levy passes, owners of residential property with an assessed value of $276,000, about average for the District, would pay an additional $41.40 per year or $3.45 per month.

The proposed levy funding distribution is 34 percent for after-school programs, 28 percent for building and park maintenance, 17 percent for District operations, and 21 percent for youth and senior programs.

In 2017, there were over 3,000 separate registrations for after-school, youth sports, and summer activity programs. If the levy passes, fees for the after-school program would be reduced by 50 percent and additional funds would be made available for program scholarships.

Funds from the levy would be used to expand fitness, wellness, and active outdoor programs for adults of all ages. In 2017, more than 1,600 adults participated in current programs.

Over 10,000 residents and visitors attended community events in 2017 sponsored by SPRD, such as the Luau, Glory Daze Car Show, and sports tournaments. Levy funds would be used to design and develop these and other events.

With more funding from the levy, SPRD would have increased ability to recruit and retain experienced staff members.

There are approximately $270,000 worth of deferred maintenance projects that could be addressed with levy funds, as well as the ability to establish a scheduled maintenance program for the Coffield Community Center, the skate park, the disc golf course, and the bike

park.

If the levy doesn't pass, program fees would increase, some programs would be eliminated, and the pending maintenance and repair of District facilities would not be addressed.

SPRD currently utilizes other funding mechanisms in addition to tax revenues, including user fees, grants, donations, and fundraising, all of which account for 73 percent of SPRD's annual revenue in the 2016-17 fiscal year.