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Palm Harbor Parks and Recreation cuts staff hours

Suncoast News file photo

Despite budget cuts, this will be the first full year that programs are held at the hockey rink at Palm Harbor Parks and Recreation's Sunderman Complex.

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: November 13, 2009

Updated:

PALM HARBOR - Parks and Recreation Department employees have had their hours cut in order to save programs and services.

Palm Harbor Parks and Recreation Director Rick Burton said the work-hour cuts had to be made to offset a loss in property tax revenue.

The department is funded with money from a quarter-mill property tax levied within the Palm Harbor Community Services District.

The district also levies a tax of 25 cents for each $1,000 of assessed, taxable property value on behalf of the Palm Harbor Library, which is dealing with budgetary problems similar to those of Parks and Recreation.

The collapse in area property values has reduced the Parks and Recreation's financial resources to the tune of about $80,000 for its 2010 fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, according to Burton.

Like every other governmental agency, Parks and Recreation is seeing the cost of serving the public go up while revenue declines.

Although the $80,000 shortfall is having a significant impact, "It was not as bad as we first expected," Burton said.

There was a time when it seemed layoffs might be inevitable, he said.

Fortunately, Burton was able to avoid firings and spare Parks and Recreation athletic services or programs. "We just have to operate more efficiently and do more with less," he said.

Under the pay-reduction plan, full-time employees are having their work weeks trimmed from 40 to 32 hours.

Most part-timers' hours have been capped at 20 or 28 hours a week.

In this economy many of the department's employees are grateful to have a job, Burton said.

Costs such as electric bills for lighting playing fields at night are also being targeted, according to Burton.

To boost the revenue side of the Parks and Recreation ledger, Burton is planning to increase the number of programs that are able to attract people will to pay registration fees.

Sports leagues continue to be popular, even with the economy in bad shape, he said.

"It was not as bad as we first expected," Burton noted.

Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.

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