Augusta commissioners got a closer look Thursday at what a $788,500 cut to the city's recreation department would mean to the community.
During a work session, commissioners focused not only on what to take out but also on what to charge more for next year as spelled out in the spending plan proposed in City Administrator Fred Russell's 2009 budget.
The budget, which Recreation Director Tom Beck helped create, proposes a 10 percent increase in facility rental fees, summer day camp and after-school programs. The increase would provide $71,000 in revenue.
The other $717,500 would come from other cuts, including the closure of eight parks and recreation facilities and elimination of 14 full- and part-time positions.
Without cutting the recreation budget, taxpayers who own a $100,000 house would pay about $55 more in taxes, Mr. Russell said. Without a tax increase or cuts to the department, the commissioners would have to find an additional $3.4 million to balance the budget or cut services across the board.
Commissioner Corey Johnson said many of his constituents in District 2 can handle neither tax increases nor fee increases.
"I have very poor people in my district on fixed incomes," he said. "A raise in taxes would be devastating."
The challenge throughout the session was how to provide the same services without raising taxes, Mr. Russell said.
"It's best for the city to go no lower on the services," he said. "We've cut to the bone again and again and again. That eventually reaches the customer."
Work sessions will continue in the weeks ahead. Commissioners will vote on the budget before the end of the year.
Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.
AUGUSTA RECREATION AND PARKS
| PROPOSED REDUCTIONS | SAVINGS |
| Eliminate vacant Recreation Specialist II -Safety Officer position |
$47,200 |
| Eliminate all uniforms, staff clothing | $18,000 |
| Eliminate all departmental training funds | $13,400 |
| Reduce horticulture programs | $32,500 |
| Reduce youth athletic clothing | $15,000 |
ELIMINATE FACILITY OPERATIONS
| Doughty Park Community Center | $16,300 |
| Augusta Soccer Park | $50,000 |
| Botanical Gardens | $140,500 |
| W.T. Johnson Community Center | $33,980 |
| Diamond Lakes Tennis Center Pro Shop | $71,920 |
| New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam Park | $75,000 |
| Garrett Community Center | $64,000 |
| McDuffie Woods Community Center | $139,000 |
Comments
dickworth1: I think you will find that the trash pick up is a FEE and is not included in property tax. What I don't understand is the constantly changing amount that Fred Russell says will be necessary to add to property taxes or cut services. I also don't see anything about eliminating the $85,000 allocated for reopening and operation of the Hyde Park Community Center.
Unfortunately we are locked in a contract with the haulers for 1.5 more years. I have and will push for once a week pick up then. It is a tax in the old city but a fee for the old county(so much for consolidation).
My question is simple, WHY DO WE NEED 32 STAFFED COMMUNITY CENTERS????????????
voters, go to the city budget for 2009 and tell me: Why the Mayor needs an extra $40K for public relations? Why are we spending $52,100 to "Create a Career track in the appraisers office? Why laptops cost different for the DA, H.R., IT departments. Why we are spending $1,502,350 for signs in a program called "Way finding". Why we are buying about 40 new trucks for the Utilities dept, many of which are gas guzzling V8s? Why Public Works needs a Crown Victoria at $26K, another V8. Why we are buying new utility bodies for trucks, instead of buying chassis trucks and reusing the utility body? Thousands of dollars for every dept for new computers, cell phones and furniture and pay raises for special people? And new positions for departments not authorized by current law? Are we crazy to let this continue?
Sho' glad I live in North Augusta.
At least it's good to see the county talking about cutting expense insted of taxing us to cover their spending.
disssman: Do you have the URL for the site that shows the budget, please?
NLA the site for the BUDGET( it is only a summary and dosen't really tell you anything) is as follows: http://augustaga.gov/departments/finance/docs/2009-proposedbudget.pdf
Some real questions are Why the attorneys are getting COLA and all other city employees aren't?
Board of elections director and asst getting whopping raises?
The law dept getting 4 cell phones for $3,500.00, when they have phones on their desk that cost an added $2,500.00?
Why the H.R. people need computers that cost $2,200.00 each but the computers for the D.A. only cost $1,100.00
Why the H.R. furniture for 3 employees is $9,000.00 but the D.A. furniture for 3 employees is $4,500.00.
Yes I am sure you will have a ball reading this document, and you are going to wonder who in finance sent out a directive on how much departments could plan on spending for similar items. By the way if we buy in bulk we save tons. And lastly, if we have an I.T. department, why are individual dept ordering computer equipment?
Oh I almost forgot, the plum of plums.
Why are we budgeting $25,000.00 to save Fort Gordon? I thought they were expanding the post like crazy lately! Must have been my imagination, because I am sure the city wouldn't spend this money unless they thought we were going to loose the post next year.
I really wonder what the backup paper work that generated this line item said? But then again that kind of information would be too much for us common citizens, wouldn't it?
disssman: Thank you for the link. Your comment about individual departments being allowed to 'do their own thing' is also true for the RCBOE. The individual schools are given monies for IT and they seem to spend it as they wish, most times unwisely. Another thing I don't understand is why there is still a difference between the old city and the county as posted by joebowles @ 10:10 AM
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
