Marion looks to shift rec costs
Staff writer
Marion city officials will meet with school officials to see whether the balance of who pays what share of recreation and pool costs can be changed.
Unlike Hillsboro and Peabody, which have recreation commissions that cover their entire school districts, Marion has only a city rec program but shares some costs with the school district.
Council members met Monday to consider a proposed 2021 budget.
Councilman Ruth Herbel said she wanted to cut $9,082 from the budget to keep the mill levy the same.
Items discussed included the recreation program and pool, lawn mowing, costs associated with community boards, insurance coverage, full-time employment, administration salaries, and fund transfers.
Herbel said an item that upset her was the amount spent on concession stand expenses at the ball park.
“We lose money on it,” Herbel said.
Recreation director Margo Yates quipped: “Now if you’d let me sell beer, we’d have all kinds of money.”
Councilman Susan Gray replied: “We’d also have all kinds of problems.”
Council members instructed administrator Roger Holter to talk with school officials and put a cap on operational expenses related to the recreational program and pool.
The proposed 2021 budget is $1,649,713. The approved budget for 2020 was $1,736,379.
A public hearing on the budget is planned for 4:30 p.m. Aug. 10.