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Park district expects about $200,000 surplus

By Blackwell Thomas, The Southern

Friday, May 16, 2008 11:08 AM CDT

CARBONDALE - It was an evening of positive developments for the Carbondale Park District Thursday.

At the top of the district's board meeting, members announced that they expect about a $200,000 surplus in their fiscal year 2009 budget.

Later, after a closed session after the regular meeting, the district announced a vote to vacate its previous decision to terminate the positions of assistant golf pro Lance Williams and child care superintendent Keely Ray Gelso. District members blamed tight finances when the decision was made in Februrary. The two will retain their positions.

The district will make copies of the FY 09 budget available Friday but projections released at the meeting show it is about $3.3 million while expenditures are projected at about $3.1 million. As written, the budget shows the district will spend about $335,000 less this year than last.

The $200,000 surplus is good news for the district, which last year had to borrow money to make payments on its existing $2.2 million debt.

In discussing the debt with budget point man and First Southern Bank executive Steve Schauwecker, district members and Schauwecker himself framed the surplus and the spending plan as an optimistic first step.

"This lays out good groundwork ? a template for being able to watch our cash flows and see where we are," he said. "I think this is what we call a good start."

The budget is the result of an overhaul the district took in its approach to its money management this year which included a line-by-line evaluation of each of the district's expenses. That process, said Treasurer Carmen Suarez, included looking at "everything you could possibly think of."

Interim Executive Director Kathy Renfro said the approach to this year's budget, in which the list of expenses started at $0 and was built from that point, will be utilized in future budgets.

Board members hope the new budgeting format will help smooth the path toward 2010 when the district is able to refinance its debt and reduce its payments.

Board Member Carl Flowers said the budget "looks good" and that, aside from some refinancing, "the best part about it is that we won't be taking out any loans."

A public hearing on the budget will be held June 16 at the Carbondale Civic Center.

For more information contact the park district office at 549-4222.

blackwell.thomas@thesouthern.com  

351-5823