Village’s Recreation budget expected to rise by over 10%

BY RIKKI MASSAND

Garden City’s Recreation Department, like most municipal departments in Garden City, will be facing a series of increased costs for the coming year’s budget.

In his presentation on the anticipated budget, delivered to the Board of Trustees last on March 23rd, Garden City Superintendent of Recreation and Parks

Paul Blake said personnel costs will increase 19% in the new budget. The department plans to hire three new laborers and a horticulturalist. Salary related expenses for will be at $3.598 for the coming fiscal year.

Recreation and Parks has 44 full-time and 44 part-time employees, and salary-related costs make up two-thirds

(66%) of the Rec. budget. In addition to salary costs, benefits and taxes expenses are estimated to be approximately $2.1 million.

As Blake outlined for the trustees the Rec. contractual services and utilities costs for the departments are also expected to rise by 7% above the forecast budget amounts. Contractual services would See page 60

$1.264 million up to $10.806 million, an increase of 13% over the current budget. Benefits and taxes associated with GCPD personnel, including costs for retirees, will be $6.3 million more.

Commissioner Jackson shared an overview of the Garden City Police Department’s grant funding success and programs for bodyworn cameras. The 2022-23 fiscal year budget did not include

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