Revenue & Pricing Policy, Service Project Proposal & Volunteer Form
REVENUE AND PRICING POLICY:
The City of Washington Parks and Recreation Department offers diversified parks and recreation services to its residents and the surrounding community. Historically, these services were financed by appropriation of tax dollars from the City’s general fund, which is to say that residents of Washington have previously paid for their parks, recreation facilities, and recreation services primarily through taxation. In recent years, with the growing population in and around Washington has increased demand for new, expanded, and more diversified services. Additionally, costs of land and capital projects have increased, as have operational costs, and with the decline in the economy over the past several years, a greater emphasis has been placed on generating non-tax revenues. These pressures are of such magnitude as to cause alternative sources of revenues to be more and more critical for the operation of parks and recreation programs and facilities. In the field of parks and recreation, sources of funds other than local taxes include:
•Gifts and bequests
•Grants
•Contractual receipts
•Concessions and leases
•Fees and charges
•Sponsorships
The guiding principle of the Washington Parks and Recreation Department’s philosophy is to provide the most efficient and highest quality parks and recreation experiences possible within its appropriated budget, and to ensure that all Washington citizens have an equal opportunity to participate in a variety of programs, services, parks and facilities. This principle is accomplished through two primary funding sources: taxes (property and sales) 2 and user fees and charges. Tax dollars may provide for capital improvements, land acquisition, and basic administrative costs for parks and recreation services; however, user fees and charges offset operating costs and continue to be an important source of income to assist in narrowing the gap between the levels of tax subsidy and revenue.
The underlying principle of financing the parks and recreation system is to offer an efficient, balanced program of parks, facilities, trails and services in Washington. Frequently, the demand upon our parks and recreation system is greater than the tax revenues available to support the demand. Realizing that tax dollars alone should not subsidize programs, services and facilities, it is necessary to charge user fees for selected programs, services and facilities, particularly in instances where a program, service or facility is directly consumed by the individual(s), group or organization for his/her or their own personal benefit. Philosophically, fees charged are designed to reduce or eliminate subsidies from the General Fund. It is felt that the user(s) of the program, service or facility shall pay for all or part of the costs.
This system of user fees and charges must supplement and not replace existing financial resources. They must be constructed on a level consistent with the needs of Washington residents and in accordance with national and local trends. User fees and charges must be viewed as a method of continuing and expanding the ability to provide quality parks and recreation services at a level that is fair and equitable to both participants and nonparticipants in the City of Washington. User fees and charges provide only one source of finance for the Parks and Recreation Department. A system of user fees and charges must supplement other resources available to the Department, not replace them or be used to diminish the Department’s responsibility to provide public open space and recreational opportunities for all citizens.
The prime objective of this Policy is to develop guidelines to efficiently direct the Department toward a more consistent and effective method of establishing fees and charges while, at the same time, maintaining a high degree of equity for the citizens of Washington. The general benefit of services, programs and facilities must exceed any detriment imposed by the user fees themselves and collections must be practical.
All Service Project Proposals and Volunteer Forms shall be directed to:
City of Washington
Attn: Parks & Recreation Department
405 Jefferson Street
Washington, MO 63090
(636) 390-1080
cwarren@washmo.gov
Service Project Proposal Form
Volunteer Form