Norwalk establishes non‑lapsing Recreation & Sports Activities account to centralize program revenue and oversight
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Summary
The committee approved creating a non‑lapsing Recreation & Sports Activities account to consolidate sports, aquatics and play-and-learn programs, increase transparency, budget revenues and expenses annually, and fund a full-time scheduling position; officials discussed program fees, scholarships and a community recreation center.
The Finance & Claims Committee voted unanimously on Nov. 13 to authorize the establishment of a Recreation and Sports Activities non‑lapsing fund to centralize revenue and expenditures for recreation, sports and aquatics programming.
CFO Jared Schmidt and Recreation Director Robert Staris told the committee the fund formalizes and expands an existing account (the “4,000 account”), subjects revenues and expenses to annual budgeting and BET/Council oversight, and allows predictable reporting on program performance. Staris said the account would retain revenues from rentals, program fees and event contracts and that the department would consider returning 3–5% of the fund each year to the general fund as compensation for city assets used by programming.
Staris also described planned revenue sources for a new community recreation center (room rentals, fee-based instruction, caterer contracts) and said the account would support a conversion of a part-time scheduling position to full time to ensure oversight and accounts receivable management. Committee members pressed for commitments on affordability, accessibility and scholarship programs; Staris said the center is city‑funded for general access, will include scholarship opportunities and an advisory council to represent community needs.
The committee approved the resolution and asked staff to provide pro‑forma revenue and cost projections to members.