Backgrounder: Parks Board
Parks Board Budget Overview
- The Vancouver Parks Board provides an array of services to the city, including the maintenance and administration of recreation facilities, more than 200 city parks, city marinas, and city trees.
- The Vancouver Parks Board manages an annual budget of over $59 million dollars.
- The City determines the global budget but the elected Parks Board determines allocation of funds.
What Does the 2008 Budget Proposal Mean for Parks Board Services?
- Higher user fees and no new services.
- The 2008 city operating budget allows for no expansion of services in 2008.
- The Park Board operating budget proposal is $59.3 million dollars. This represents a 3.05% increase from 2007. This budget, in conjunction with an increase in user fees will maintain service levels without reductions in staff positions.
- This budget is separate from the budget for capital projects. Currently, the Parks Board is in the third year of the 2006-2008 capital plan.
2008 Increase in User Fees
To maintain current service levels and subsidize services that operate at a loss, the Vancouver Parks Board wants to institute the following increases:
- Marina Fees: Up 15%
- Stanley Park train and farm fees, Vandusen Gardens: Up 2.75%
- Parking: Up 2.75%
- All other fees, including pool and ice rink admission: Up 2.75%
- Subsidies for community groups and low-income users remain in place.
Some Current Parks Board Capital Projects
- Mount Pleasant Community Centre
- Greening the Park Board
- Neighbourhood Park Renewal
- Stanley Park Renewal
- Playing Field Upgrades
- On February 25, the Parks Board failed to pass the 2008 budget proposal on spending allocations within the global budget due to a tie vote.
- The budget proposal has been sent back with recommendations to city staff for revisions.
- The City of Vancouver saved $11.8 million dollars during the 2007 work stoppage.
- The Parks Board accounts for $3.4 million dollars of these savings. Requests by the Board for these funds to be returned to the Parks Board budget were denied.
- The full 11.8 million dollars will instead be refunded to taxpayers as a credit in 2008.