Providing affordable and fun activities for area youth is a legitimate service of government, city leaders say, but a budget request 28 percent over last year's from the Parks and Recreation Department is too much for the city to bear.
Kirk Mason, Ketchum parks and recreation director, went before the City Council Wednesday to present a proposed budget for fiscal year 2005-2006 in the amount of approximately $624,000.
The budget includes a new position of recreation center supervisor, as well as an equipment operator who would work half time for the parks department and half time for the streets department.
More kids—100 this summer alone—add revenue but also require more staff and expanded programs.
Mason estimated that less than 50 percent of the kids are from Ketchum. Year-round, he said, up to 12 percent of the total are from Sun Valley.
The number of Sun Valley visitors is higher when adult users are factored in.
Tourists, some of whom are guests at Sun Valley Co. and don't want to pay recreation fees there, and south valley residents round out users of the Ketchum parks system, Mason said.
"We're kind of a catch-all, which is great," Mason said. But, "I'd love to see Sun Valley pitch in."
Council members agreed but noted that it would be difficult to determine who comes from where and, consequently, how much Sun Valley should contribute.
A large portion of the proposed budget is allocated for tree management, including hazard mitigation and removal, and noxious weed control.
The professional services line item that supports that is figured in at $55,000, compared with last year's request of $6,500. Part of that increase is blamed on more trees being put on city property instead of private lots.
"The city has created a monster here," said Councilwoman Terry Tracy. "We are allowing buildings to build to their lot lines. They're taking their forest and putting it into the city's right of way."
The council agreed to look at new policies to relieve the city of caring for so many trees, including requiring developers to maintain trees if they plant them in the right of way.
The council also heard from Street Superintendent Brian Christiansen, who requested approximately $1,215,000, or 5.7 percent more than in last year's budget.
"We had a real tight budget this year so I'm going to do everything I can to not go over," he said.
The main increase came from the proposed lease-purchase of a new sweeper to replace a 20-year-old model currently in use.
Gas prices won't significantly impact the department's budget, Christiansen said.
"We bumped that up last year with the anticipated increase," he said. "With a pretty good winter, I think we should be OK."
Bob Mollineaux of Sun Valley is watched by Stu Byerly, Taylor Riviello and Julian Collewiun Wednesday at Guy Coles Skateboard Park in Ketchum. Up to 12 percent of kids who use Ketchum Parks and Recreation Department facilities are from Sun Valley. The city of Ketchum wants Sun Valley to help pay for some of the costs. Photo by David N. Seelig
