The Blaine County Recreation District board of directors has set its budget at $2.18 million for the coming 2005-2006 fiscal year.
Directed last week to finesse the preliminary numbers, Executive Director Dave Keir presented a balanced budget on Wednesday, Aug. 31, to the three-member board in Hailey. The budget is slightly higher than the $2 million spent in 2004-2005.
"The big thing with the budget is that only one-third of our activities are covered by taxes," said Dan Gilmore, district marketing and development specialist. "The other two-thirds come from program fees and private philanthropy, which is very unique for a recreation district."
In the upcoming fiscal year, the district anticipates $863,099 from Blaine County property taxes—a $40,000 increase over the previous year's tax revenue.
The remaining revenue sources will come privately through donations and fund-raising efforts, coupled with fees charged by the district for facilities and programs.
The largest expenditures are for programs, which include youth soccer, youth and adult basketball and summer camps, and for maintenance of the North Valley Trails, Wood River Trails and parks in Carey and Picabo.
Programs bring in $209,435, a figure comparable to 2005 program revenue, but that falls short of their expenses. Wally Morgus, district project director, said those revenues would rise if more adults participated in programs.
Other primary expenditures include operating costs for the Community Campus in Hailey. The campus, a collaborative effort between the Recreation District and the Blaine County School District, serves as the base for Recreation District operations.
The campus requires $123,651 in annual operating costs. That includes nearly $40,000 for capital improvements, which could fund construction of an exercise facility.
Expenses for the HUB youth activity center at the campus add another $58,400 to the Community Campus expenditures.
Gilmore explained that in the next 12 months the Recreation District hopes to establish a separate non-profit entity to act as the "fund-raising arm of the Recreation District."
"It's a little confusing as to why people would give to a government organization," he said.
