Financially speaking, 2016 was a home run of a year for the Jefferson City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department.
Parks Director Todd Spalding, marking his first anniversary at the helm this month, wowed the Parks Commission with the year-end financial report at its January meeting Tuesday night at the City Hall Annex's multipurpose room.
"We ended the year $663,447 better than anticipated," Spalding said. "Total operating revenues were $8,042,299 and operating expenses were $6,626,392, for a total surplus of $1,415,905."
Spalding's numbers showed the sales taxes which support the 1,400-acre parks system and its 35 miles of greenways generated $449,233 above budget, expenses were $12,176 less than anticipated and "the bottom line shows a surplus of $5,123,935," Spalding said.
The Parks boss reported the University Wellness and Parks Multipurpose Recreation Center "contract, to date, including all change orders, is $12,113,114. The total paid by both parties to date is $7,775,359. The remaining balance is $4,337,754. So, the remaining balance to be paid by Parks and Recreation is approximately $2,602,652." Known now as the Wellness Center, a joint venture with Lincoln University, the project is on target for an opening on or about Feb. 1.
Among specific fiscal results for 2016 were these:
The Washington Park Ice Arena, which sustained flash floods in August and September, nevertheless showed revenues $44,449 above budget with expenses up $373,895 over budget - $119,647 of which was related to the floods. Spalding reported the total loss from the two floods amounted to $507,062. The Parks Department received $387,414 in insurance settlements linked to the flood, resulting in a net loss of $119,647.
Oak Hills Golf Course revenues ended the year $34,775 over budget, with concessions $39,900 over. Expenses at the golf course were $79,198 under budget.
Park maintenance revenues were up by $70,484, facility rentals were up by $49,916 and cell tower rentals were up by $20,569. Expenses were down $487,703, with full-time salaries down $229,277, seasonal salaries under by $24,370, gas under by $45,995, training and education under by $6,926, utilities under by $6,022 and equipment maintenance under by $32,654.
Recreation program revenues were over budget by $94,621, with program revenues up $665,530, field rentals up by $5,3768 and concessions up by $23,713. Expenses in the recreation programming sector were over budget by $172,340, full-time salaries were over by $152,114, operational supplies were over by $6,103, professional services were over by $4,674 and special events were over $3,825.