Pleasantville Village Board Work Session Reviews FYE2026 Parks & Recreation Budget – 2025-03-11

The Pleasantville Village Board of Trustees met for a work session on March 11, 2025, to review the Parks & Recreation FYE2026 requested budget, discuss outstanding FYE2026 budget items, and later enter executive session for personnel and contractual matters. The agenda and transcript list the meeting as Monday, March 10, 2025, but the official timestamp provided is March 11, 2025; this summary uses the official date. No formal votes were taken during the budget discussion.

The public agenda scheduled the Parks & Recreation review at 7:00 PM, outstanding budget items at 7:50 PM, and executive session at 8:30 PM.

Parks & Recreation FYE2026 Budget Review – Revenue

• Parks and Recreation Chief Mike Newman presented the revenue lines with Finance staff present.
• Panther Club revenue was projected conservatively using current enrollment; a wait list remains, with staff reaching out about additional days.
• Day Camp revenue was set cautiously because last year was seen as a peak and school enrollment numbers are declining; camp scholarships and a possible review were also factors.
• Preschool program revenue is shrinking; weekend offerings are being considered because universal pre-K gives families more options.
• Pool revenue includes memberships and swim lessons. A non-village school district resident expressed sticker shock over higher general rates plus the non-resident fee; board members suggested better communication about the new pool and the reasons for fee increases.
• Field light fees have not been raised for user groups, and staff plan a deeper review. The monthly demand charge remains large for the first use and lower for repeat uses.
• Adult programs, snack bar rental, youth program fees, Pleasantville Day fees, and swim team fees were described as stable.

Parks & Recreation FYE2026 Budget Review – Expenses

• Recreation administration was described as stable with full staffing; office supply costs are lower, and the community pass program is successful, with a portion of its revenue to be allocated to senior programming.
• The parks seasonal staffing plan would add two employees in spring, three in summer, and one in fall to the current six, helping with downtown garbage and more aggressive turf maintenance.
• Supplies are increasing mainly for Parkway Field: more seed, topsoil, organic fertilizer, grub control, and a deep-tine aeration process using an outside company. The net additional spending on that field is about $60,000–$70,000 over the prior year. Clay is for the baseball fields.
• Vehicle repair is down because equipment is newer; the new water truck may not arrive until June or possibly August.
• Mutt mitts/dog waste bags are budgeted at about $3,000.
• Outside services include Parkway Field work and the village’s payment for the high school portal; board members questioned the portal arrangement.
• The Lake Street Rec Center will need a roof within about two years if it continues in current use, though that timeline may be extended with spot repairs.
• Pool staffing increases are planned for additional lifeguards for the slide and diving board. Lifeguard training is down because there is no pool available for the class. Pool supplies and chemicals are increasing, and the final arrangement for contractor-covered costs is unclear.
• Day Camp expenses include returning to BRS for non-pool days, more outside vendors for sports and STEM classes, and a lower bus transportation bid than previously budgeted.
• Special events overtime is increased, mainly for the concert series, after staff recaptured true overtime allocation.
• Panther Club part-time staffing is projected at $335,000 rather than the $280,000 current-year projection; full staffing for the full program would require the higher amount.
• Contractual services/beautification includes an increase for downtown holiday lights from $30,000 to $50,000 to cover the new civic space.
• Northeast Recreation has about 20–23 Pleasantville residents participating; some are currently in Italy for the World Games floorball team.

Tree Planting Discussion

• The budget includes $7,000 for 50/50 trees and five new street trees. Michael Inglis argued this is inadequate, recommending 40–50 new street trees per year for four to five years, citing 150 missing street-tree locations and a 20% canopy loss (at least 400 trees). He suggested reallocating at least $2,000 from holiday lights and finding additional money.
• Helen supported a sapling program for residents as a lower-cost way to expand the canopy.
• The board acknowledged the goal but made no commitment, citing neighbor coordination, labor capacity, and budget constraints. Further discussion was deferred.

Pool Schedule Risk

• The pool gutter-system subcontractor is about one month behind; delivery is now scheduled for April 7. The subcontractor reportedly notified the main contractor only the Friday before the expected delivery.
• The opening could slip from Memorial Day weekend to June 13, losing about 12 days of operation or roughly 10% of pool season revenue. Pool enrollment opens April 14, so staff plan to communicate any delay and consider a rate discount.
• A project meeting and site visit are scheduled for Thursday. Board members discussed a grand opening on a later weekend, possibly with free admission and festivities.

Outstanding FYE2026 Budget Items

• Board discussion covered the possibility of adjusting pool revenue and staffing if opening is delayed; lifeguard hiring may be affected but was not seen as catastrophic.
• The board discussed the village’s shared-use payments to the school district, including custodial fees and Panther Club fees, and suggested a broader conversation about the disparity.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken; the FYE2026 draft budget will be adjusted and must be voted on by the end of April.
• Staff will continue evaluating the pool schedule and communicate opening and rate implications; a board member will attend the Thursday project meeting.
• The tree planting request was heard but not committed; further work-session discussion is expected, including a possible sapling program.
• Executive session was scheduled for 8:30 PM to discuss personnel and contractual matters.
• The next regular meeting was announced as Monday, March 24, 2025, with a work session at 7:00 PM.