By Ashley Hoholik
GLADSTONE - The Gladstone Parks and Recreation board want residents and city officials to know the department is worth its weight in the general fund. During Wednesday night's meeting of the board, members brainstormed ways to display the benefits and significance of their department to the community they serve.
Nicole Sanderson, parks and recreation director, recently compiled a report to outline the various budget expenditures and revenues of her department. The final report will be presented to the city commission during the Sept. 27 regular meeting.
"The purpose of this document was not only to provide the commission with information, but to gain credibility from them," Sanderson explained. "Giving them a document listing all of the facilities - with a generalization and yet some specificity - it might help."
Sanderson's document outlines the various facilities run by the department, including the municipal harbor, Ski Park, Van Cleve Park and the beach house. While both the revenue and expense associated with maintaining and operating the facilities are summarized, the condition and suggestions are also included in the presentation.
A synopsis of the department's budget since 2001 shows a significant drop in spending from 2008 ($291,373.18) to 2009 ($211, 620.20). Even if the city were to make drastic cuts to the department's budget, Sanderson explained, they would soon realize many of the expenses left are essential to the city.
"Looking from 2001 to today's date, we actually spend less money and we do more things," said Sanderson. "We've added on and we've improved every one of our facilities, so whether they (the commission) want to take my word for it or they find me credible or not, these numbers can't lie."
Sanderson noted while places like the harbor earned significant revenue over expense, other areas, like Van Cleve Park, are not revenue-based and require more maintenance.
Despite the expenses incurred by the department, Sanderson points out that, overall, benefits brought to the community are greater.
"We are fortunate right now, because we do have a very lean budget and it shows that we are doing well and it's going down," she said. "We are also very fortunate because we are in an economical time when we are trying to attract businesses and things and we have been looked at recently by businesses.
"The reason they are looking at Gladstone is because of the parks, and because of the green spaces and the downtown is gorgeous," Sanderson added. "We have been working really hard and, at a crucial time, people are looking at Gladstone and it is because we are doing this."