Fiscal Year 2004 Proposed Budget

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES
DEPARTMENT BUDGET SUMMARY

MISSION STATEMENT: To enrich Arlington County as a vibrant and enjoyable community.

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Resources (DPRCR) works to make Arlington a happy and healthy place to live, work, and play through dynamic programs, attractive public spaces, and collaborations that provide healthy and fun recreation, sport, and leisure choices; to cultivate, maintain, and protect natural and cultural resources; and to provide opportunities for creative expression.

FY 2004 PRIORITIES: The FY 2004 priorities of DPRCR are to:

• Provide a range of program choices that reflect the interests and needs of Arlington's population and help build a healthy and vibrant community.

• Provide a wide variety of programs for youth which emphasize developmental asset-building and include life-long leisure choices as well as constructive alternatives to at-risk behaviors.

• Continue improvement in the maintenance and management of DPRCR open space and facilities to provide appropriate resources for the community.

• Integrate the arts with community life by expanding and diversifying audiences and increasing public understanding and enjoyment of the arts.

PRINCIPAL PROGRAMS: The principal programs of DPRCR are:

Community Recreation:

• Community Recreation Service Areas

• Recreation Countywide Services

• Recreation Community Services

Parks & Natural Resources:

• Urban Operations Initiative

• Conservation and Interpretation

• Park Management

• Construction and Facilities

• Forestry and Landscaping

Sports:

• Athletic Field Maintenance

• Team Sports

• Individual Sports

Cultural Affairs:

• Administration, Marketing and Advancement

• Cultural Development

• Community Arts

• Technical Services and Facilities Management

Director's Office:

• Planning and Administration

• Cooperative Extension

Supplemental Fees Program

Significant budget changes: The FY 2004 proposed budget for DPRCR is $25,905,109, a five percent increase over FY 2003.

• Due to state budget cuts affecting funding for the arts, the budget for grants to arts organizations has been reduced by $2,000.

The expenditure budget reflects the following changes:

• Increase in personnel ($701,720) is primarily due to cost of normal step increases and new funding for personnel costs for Powhatan Springs Skate Park ($50,665; 2.0 FTEs) and Langston-Brown Recreation Center ($18,689; 0.4 FTE), and transfer of the Urban Operations Initiative's (UOI) Smartscape program from the Department of Environmental Services (DES) ($104,798; 3.0 FTEs). The cost of the Powhattan Springs Skate Park is partly offset by reallocation of a position within the Division ($40,423, 1.0 FTE).

• Increase in costs of construction and maintenance contracts ($107,958).

• Increase in County vehicle rental charges ($47,162).

• Increase in insurance for sports programs ($6,330).

• Increase in Joint-Use Agreement payment to schools ($133,443).

• Increase in rent for Ellipse and Culpepper Gardens ($3,425).

• Funding for maintenance and utilities for the newly acquired North Tract ($30,600).

• Transfer of non-personnel costs for the UOI Smartscape program from DES ($72,442).

• Funding for the Fort C. F. Smith operating and programming cost ($30,000) with revenues to offset expenses, resulting in no net tax support increase.

• Non-personnel funding for ten months cost for the new Powhatan Springs Skate Park ($39,355) which is partly offset by the fees in the program and funding for the renovated and expanded Langston-Brown Recreation Center ($22,450).

• Decrease in County telephone charges ($42,671).

• Decrease in one-time funding for the Tree Master Plan ($100,000).

• Decrease in one-time funding for start-up cost for invasive plant control ($5,000).

• Decrease in Intra-County Charges due to Public Art being charged to the General Fund instead of the Capital Improvement Program ($128,180).

• Eliminated 0.8 FTE from Community Recreation Services areas due to Bully Prevention Grant that ends in FY 2003 ($54,425).

Revenues remain relatively constant and reflect the following:

• Decrease in grant revenues due to the ending of the Bully Prevention Grant from the State in FY 2003 ($54,425), decrease in federal cost-share funding for personnel expenses associated with the Gypsy Moth Suppression Program due to security issues regarding aerial spraying in this area ($9,000), and decrease in revenues from the Virginia Commission for the Arts ($2,000) due to state budget cuts.

• Increase in revenues from fees ($275,208) is mainly due to the overall fee increases in the Supplemental Fee Programs, new rental fees for Fort C.F. Smith and the Rosslyn Spectrum Theater, and admission fees for the new Powhatan Springs Skate Park.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

• Household participation and customers' rating comparisons to the national average are from the Parks and Recreation Resident Survey completed in June 2002. This survey will likely not be done again for several years.

FUTURE BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS: The following factors may impact DPRCR in the future:

• Increased funding and additional personnel for the planned renovations and expanded Walter Reed and Arlington Mill Recreation Centers.

• Additional funding may be required to supplement existing resources in order to bring programs above the current maintenance level and thus attract matching funds from the private sector. For example, changes could result from the master planning of Quincy Park, Oakland Park, and Maury Park; changes in the use of 13^th and Herndon in Clarendon; and the Arlington Urban Walkway (an expansion of the original 9^th Street Greenway concept).

• Aging infrastructure and increased park usage will necessitate increased maintenance and the replacement of various facilities and park amenities such as park benches, litter receptacles, drinking fountains, kiosks, and retaining walls.

• When the construction is completed for Greenbrier Park, Barcroft Park, and North Tract, funding will be needed to address future maintenance needs.

• Continued growth in the number of performing arts organizations, number of productions and theater facilities managed by this Section is difficult to accommodate at current staffing levels. Upgraded facilities, additional equipment and additional staff are needed.

• Additional operating funds are needed to provide for a more effective program that markets the arts regionally and nationally in cooperation with Economic Development/tourism initiatives. Funds are needed for display advertising and for the implementation of cooperative arts marketing campaigns with Arlington arts groups.