The City of Waukesha Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board unanimously recommended the department’s proposed 2026 executive operating budget to the Finance Committee after a detailed staff presentation on efficiency measures, special revenue funds and program revenue initiatives.

Board members discussed the budget at a regularly scheduled Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board meeting where department staff walked the board through the plan and related projects. “We’re gonna walk you through the operating budget. It sounds big, and it is, but we’ll try to make it not so painful for you,” Ron (staff member) told the board as he opened the budget review.

The proposal is effectively flat overall: department staff described the general-fund portion of the budget as “status quo” and noted the operating levy request falls slightly, while the department is planning program and capital activity through special revenue funds and the CIP. Ron said the department met the city’s Financial Management Program requirements while keeping the overall proposed change near zero.

Why it matters: the department’s operating budget funds shelters, pools, seasonal programming, forestry operations and administrative staff. Staff emphasized steps intended to reduce reliance on tax levy funding while preserving services, including expanding self-supporting programs, using contractual services, and increasing volunteer program capacity.

Key strategies and program details
- Volunteer coordinator: Staff described volunteerism as a rapidly growing resource and proposed converting the part‑time volunteer coordinator (currently 20 hours per week) to full time in order to manage the increased volunteer workload. Ron noted volunteer hours recently totaled about 37,000, which staff said represents “a little over a million dollars” in value if quantified.

- Special revenue funds: Recreation staff said special revenue accounts are self-supporting program funds and will carry more activity in 2026. Mark Thompson (staff member) told the board the department expects to increase net revenue in one major special revenue fund by about $76,000 in 2026, driven by new before‑and‑after‑school sites (including Meadowbrook) and expanded concessions and sponsorships.

- Pools and cabanas: Staff proposed a $50,000 combined capital outlay for pool cabanas—$30,000 at Buckner and $20,000 at Horeb—to provide rentable, reserved spaces and generate new revenue. Mark Schramm (staff member) presented revenue projections showing a first‑year return at a 30% occupancy estimate of roughly $28,400, with longer‑term upside if occupancy rises. Schramm said the investment could materially reduce the subsidy's size over multi‑year projections.

- Technology and operations: Staff reported progress on keyless entry at shelters (13 locations, over 45 doors in place) and additional deployments planned, which staff said saves substantial employee time for opening and closing facilities. Shared resources with Public Works, a fleet reorganization and selective contracting for medians and other maintenance were cited as further efficiency measures.

Other program and capital notes
- Mineola Pavilion (CIP): Staff said Mineola Pavilion is the department’s top capital project for 2026 with a target of substantial completion in 2026 and a grand opening in 2027; staff also signaled outreach for sponsorships and contributions tied to that project.

- 21st‑century grant uncertainty for CLCs: Staff reported the before/after school CLC grants are in year 4 of a five‑year grant cycle but funding levels have fluctuated in recent years. Mark Thompson said the grant funded allocations have shifted from full to a partial funding level in recent months and that final funding for future years remains uncertain.

- Forestry and tree work: Melissa Lipska (staff member) told the board forestry is near full core staffing and that city crews continue phased removals of ash trees due to emerald ash borer impacts while maintaining a treatment cycle for remaining trees.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of minutes from the Sept. 8, 2025 Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board meeting: Motion by Eric Hummer (board member), second by Steve Johnson (board member). Result: passed unanimously (all present board members voted yes).
- Recommendation of the proposed 2026 executive operating budget to the Finance Committee: Motion by Steve Johnson (board member), second by Sarah Roth (board member). Result: passed unanimously; staff will present the Finance Committee recommendation next week with Council adoption scheduled for Nov. 4 (as noted by staff).
- Approval of the 2026 Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board meeting schedule: Motion by Eric Hummer (board member), second by John Schmitz (board member). Result: passed unanimously.

What was not decided: board discussion included many operational priorities and program proposals (for example, converting the volunteer coordinator to full time and purchasing pool cabanas), but the meeting action was limited to forwarding the operating budget recommendation to finance and approving the meeting schedule. Any staffing or capital expenditures still require the usual finance and council approvals as applicable.

The board adjourned after staff questions and routine director reports; staff thanked board members for their review and said the Finance Committee meeting to review departmental recommendations is scheduled next week.