Naperville parks budget robust

The Naperville Park District budget is in good shape, according to officials who say they hope to pass along savings to residents.

Park district staff presented a draft of its $34.9 million budget for 2009 to park commissioners during a special workshop Monday.

"What you hear right now going on in the economy is a lot of things from layoffs to a lot of companies going out of business," said Mindy Munn, director of business services. "One thing we have going in our favor is, from a financial condition standpoint, the park district is solid."

Because it is in good shape, she said, the district plans to emphasize its scholarship program to help residents attend classes they otherwise may not be able to afford. The district isn't planning any fee increases for its programs and is considering offering shorter sessions to make programs more affordable.

The park district's property tax rate will be 24.19 cents per $100 of equalized assessed value. That means the owner of a $350,000 home would pay $274 each year to the district.

While the rate is slightly lower than last year's, property tax bills will still be on the rise for the average homeowner, who will see a 5.8 percent increase in the assessed value of his or her home. Assessments are based on the past three years, so the downturn in the real estate market will not fully be reflected in assessments for several years.

The condition of the economy will have some effect on the park district's revenues. Munn said she doesn't expect to collect as much in user impact fees from developers, and interest income is also down. But 56 percent of the revenue comes from property taxes.

On the expenses side, about $9.1 million will go toward capital projects. These include Centennial Beach bathhouse renovations, Winding Creek Park improvements, DuPage River Park trail development and renovations to seven playgrounds in various parks.

One area of concern for the district is its golf courses. Golf has been on the decline both locally and nationally due to both the cost and the time it takes to play.

The park district is looking into several potential changes to see if they would help increase revenue or lower costs including installing lights at the driving ranges and switching from gas-powered to electric golf carts, according to Ed Provow, director of golf services. It is also exploring giving golfers the option of playing fewer than the traditional 18 holes.

The park district's proposed budget is available for viewing at napervilleparks.org.