SPRINGFIELD – Last week, committee members approved a $37 million budget for Willamalane Park and Recreation District to be sent forward to the board of directors.
On June 16, district staff explained department budgets and presented a balanced budget to the committee. Executive Director Michael Wargo presented the fiscal year 2027 budget, highlighting that the district remains a “gold medal finalist” among park and recreation agencies.
In April, Willamalane was announced as a national gold medal finalist, one of the top park and rec agencies in the country. The honor, announced by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association, once again places Springfield among the nation’s leading park and recreation systems.
Wargo said a five-minute video that shows the impact and uniqueness the district provides to the Springfield community was submitted for judging at the National NRPA conference in Philadelphia this fall.
The proposed budget is balanced, maintains existing service levels, and avoids staff reductions. Financial strategies for this year’s budget include a district-wide reorganization completed in January 2026, which generated over $120,000 in annual operating savings without cutting filled positions.
The reorganization helped put the district on a stronger financial trajectory with growing revenues, controlled spending, and healthier ending fund balances, according to Wargo. The change included restructuring of departments, with one department – the youth and family recreation department – essentially discontinued and spread throughout multiple departments.
“Overall forecast demonstrates that the district’s financial position has improved significantly compared to prior years,” said business operations manager Skylar Shane as he reviewed the budget and five-year projections. “Organizational efficiency, ongoing financial management efforts, in addition to the local option levy revenue, have really strengthened the district’s capital outlook.”
Other key changes to the budget include a $1.5 million annual increase from the winning levy and a 5% increase in rental property rates.
Voters approved a five-year levy proposal with 51% (9,272) of the vote for the May election. The tax is an additional 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed home value to maintain service levels.
Rental revenue is increasing as the district continues to align rates with market conditions and recommendations from its property management company.
Expenditures are still projected to grow faster than recurring revenue over time, requiring continued attention to long-term financial sustainability and to the district’s goal of not being reliant on the approximately $1.5 million from the levy, according to Shane.
Staff discussed the long-term financial model, including the goal to fill the $1.5 million gap through grants and revenue growth by the sixth year.
The budget hearing was held in a single meeting spanning around 3 ½ hours.
No public comments were received during the meeting.
“This is a good budget. Let’s pass it,” said director Chris Wig.
Hearing Wig’s suggestion, the board moved to adopt the budget as proposed. The budget will go to the board for adoption at a special meeting scheduled for June 24.
