Park and Rec. budget increase held to just 2 percent

Kimball County Commissioners, along with County Clerk Cathy Sibal, met with the Kimball City Council members on Tuesday, Aug. 14 as the Park and Recreation Executive Board, one of several joint ventures between the two boards.

The joint board discussed the proposed budget for the area department, which includes the Four Winds Golf Course and the local ball fields where baseball, softball, little league and little league soccer are played.

City Council previously discussed, and proposed at the joint meeting, an increase of $10,000 towards the joint venture, with the City of Kimball and Kimball County sharing the increase 50/50, as they do for the current budget.

Though County Commissioners wanted more time before making a decision, the timeline dictated one be made immediately.

“Why do we need to up what we are giving when everyone else is remains the same?” City Council member Kim Baliman asked.

“I personally am not okay with an increase for a budget that projects a loss,” County Commissioner Tim Nolting added.

Kimball County stated they planned to increase budgets two percent across the board, an increase that was given to the Park and Recreation fund as well. That increase totals $1,710 for the County and a matching $1,710 from the City of Kimball, totaling $3,420 in addition to the $171,000 the department currently receives from the two municipalities.

In addition to half the budget, Kimball County also pays the City of Kimball an administrative fee.

In addition to the funding support the department receives from Kimball County and the City of Kimball, income primarily comes from storage and usage fees and memberships.