FY 2014-2015 Budget Presentation to Board of Finance

1. FY 2014-2015 Budget Presentation to Board of Finance [Leisure Services] [Laurie Albano, Superintendent of Recreation Services] March [26], 2014

2. Summary of Operating Budget Request

3. Operating Budget Request by Activity

4. Operational Highlights • We are currently working with IT to add a new Survey Monkey link to our web site to allow residents the opportunity to critique our programs and offer suggestions in a convenient fashion. • We also plan on allowing the new option of a program credit instead of just a refund to program users who for whatever reason want to remove themselves from a program. • Due to the demand of our various summer camp programs, in addition to on line registration (for 50% of available spots) we have separate registration late afternoons to accommodate the residents by making it fair and accessible as well as keeping the Government Center from being overcrowded during normal business hours. • Working closely and offering many public and non-profit agencies the collaboration to assist them by creating unique processes in getting their users into our programs such as: Person to Person; Starfish Foundation; Board of Education Summer School Students, BOE Grant funded after school programs are held for elementary schools age children from Oct thru May ; etc. • Continually updating our website with current information on all our programs, including but not limited to, current program brochure as well as links to various youth leagues and organizations which makes it a community recreation oriented forum. • We strategically send email marketing blasts to our data base of customers. • We work closely with school Guidance Counselors for both program attendance and seasonal job recruitment. • The Mayor’s Youth Sponsorship Fund that provides free programs to children on free or reduced lunch continues to do well thanks to the generosity of our residents; however donations have been down over the last year so we have created a new “Buy a Paw” program whereby residents can buy a paper paw with funding going to the Sponsorship Fund. This paw symbolizes our mascot Rory the Tiger. The paper paws of donors along with their names will be displayed in our office and possibly on our web site. • We are constantly reviewing and thinking about process improvements. We give residents an opportunity to provide us with their feedback through many different forums such as: league meetings, our website and our new and soon to be debuted on line program evaluation forms. One of our priorities on our process improvement wish list is to be allowed the establishment of a program revolving or revenue fund. This would allow us the ability to create programs based on user fees in any given fiscal year.

5. Financial Highlights • o Increase Full Time Salaries + $10,888 or +3% • o Increase/New Cost of $48,833 in Classified Pension Fund • o Increase/New Cost of $28,014 OPEB Contribution • o Increase in Admin 2530 due to Active Medical & Life costs: + $49,970 or 123% • o Decrease in Admin 2530 Unemployment Compensation: - $11,177 or -155% • o Decrease in Admin 2530 Retiree Medical and Life: - $14,760 or 68% • o Decrease in Admin 2530 Payments to Insurance Fund: - $1,429 or 61% • o Increase in Aquatics 2531 Unemployment Compensation: + $6,208 or 138% • o Increase in Aquatics 2531 Medical Supplies: + $2,800 or 182%. Increase is due to the need for 3 AED batteries ($400 ea.) and the volume of small injuries at all 4 beaches from scraps, rocks, falls, cuts etc. • o Increase in Aquatics 2531 Rec Supplies: + $1,000 or 28%. Increase is due to increased need for chemicals at Heroy Pool’s outdated mechanical systems and need to replace old kick boards and training aids for swim lesson programs. • o Increase in Fee Supported 2534 Payments to Insurance Fund: $2,766 or 57 % • o Increase in Fee Supported 2534 Busing: + $10,000 or 21%. Increase is due to the increased cost of transportation/fuel for camp and field trips. • Youth Programming is our #1 priority encompassing 60% of our budget in direct program costs including Special Needs Recreation. Fee Supported Youth programs bring in a surplus of approx. 28% a year. • Full time staff equals 23% of the total budget plus with Admin expenses it equals 30%. • 70% of the Recreation budget is dedicated to programming. • Recreation services anticipated revenue is $974,485 for FY 14/15. Factoring this number in, our true cost to the City is $1,152,521 or 55% of our subsidized total budget request of $2,127, 006, we believe that the value we provide in services to our residents, the community spirit/quality of life that we build and we create is priceless!

6. Cost Management • Cost Management • Cost Management Actions Taken in 2013/2014 included:Review the City HTE financial reports for expenditure, encumbrance and revenues • Review our own internal Rec Trac software financial reports for participation and revenues • Manage our budget expenditures to allocated appropriations and individual line items and/or transfer funds as necessary to ensure no accounts are in deficit • Follow City purchasing policies by soliciting and shopping various vendors for the best price and value • Follow all City account control policies to ensure timely and accurate management of all deposits • Cost tracking reports or Profit & Loss Statements done on each individual program to review viability and benefit analysis of program continuation. • Use City issued P Cards to purchase items on sale or in bulk where applicable. • The acceptance of credit cards, as well as online registration where feasible continues to be a great success. For the period of March 2013 through 2014, 60% of day camp and program registration was done online, and 70% of all registrations are paid for with a credit card. • Bids & RFP’s are always used where applicable. • Contracted vendor programs/reduce our subsidy and net approx. $100K per year. • We initiate a sit down with the BOE to negotiate custodian OT charges. • Purchase in bulk. • Tiered pay rates for seasonal staff. • Use parks as often as possible to avoid BOE custodian charges. • Fees and charges reviewed annually to balance maximum revenue and user ability to pay. • Continue credit card acceptance both in office and on line registration. • At Stamford Recreation Services we take the management of our appropriated funds and revenues very seriously. In our business, the delivery of services and tangible programs to our residents and the accounting and reporting of such is a direct indicator of how we are doing. Our goal is to maximize revenues and minimize expenses while providing quality programs and services to our customers/residents.

7. Significant Requests for 2014-2015 • Other than OPM decentralized cost increases of $133,025, our total operational increase is $24,688. • Busing for youth camp and field trip increase is $10K. • Full time salaries has increased $10,888. • Aquatics supplies increase is $3,800.