Parks budget raids fund balance to the tune of $745K

The West Bloomfield Township Parks and Recreation Commission approved its 2012 operating budget at a commission meeting held on Thursday, Oct. 27.

According to updated ledgers provided by the commission, West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation’s proposed 2012 budget projects total revenues of about $4.7 million, while the total amount of expenditures is projected at $5.41 million, leaving a $745,445 deficit and decreasing the department’s fund balance from $2.87 million to $2.12 million.

Among the biggest revenue sources, the department projects to collect around $1.26 million from a 0.5-mill land acquisition property tax. The second-biggest revenue source is expected to be $772,051 from a 0.25-mill general operating property tax. Rounding out the top three revenue sources is revenue obtained through a 0.25-mill active recreation property tax collection, at approximately $725,443.

The biggest expenditures under the 2012 proposed budget would be park operations totaling $1.403 million, followed by capital projects at $1.275 million and recreation programs at $1.108 million.

The majority of park operations expenditures would go toward full-time salaries totaling $398,350.

The first phase of the West Bloomfield Trail extension project comprises the majority of the capital projects expenditures. It’s budgeted at $1.05 million for 2012.

Full-time salaries also make up the majority of recreation expenditures, at an expected cost of $318,800.

The West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees must still approve the 2012 Parks and Recreation budget.