Page 80 - KCMO Parks Master Plan 2032

FINANCIAL
FINANCIAL

below look at how the department has divided
ANALYSIS its budget among its seven typical allocations.
We can almost think of these allocations as
divisions of service, each achieving a critical aim
or service of the department. Natural Resources
As part of assessing the overall health and comprises all the routine maintenance operations
stability of the department, the consultant that keep KCMO parks in working order such
team needed to examine the finances of the as mowing, tree trimming, and even minor
department. There are a number of questions repairs to facilities. Capital improvements refer
that one asks in this endeavor. How does the to large dollar expenditures for new vehicles,
department spend its budget? How is it typically equipment, and amenities in parks or community
funded? What trends exist over the past several centers. They can also include significant
fiscal years? These historical trends often paint renovations to existing park or facility amenities.
part of the financial picture for a department over Community Services includes the costs put
its upcoming planning horizon. towards the city’s ten community centers and
all of the recreational programming that takes
Expenditures place therein. Cultural Facilities refers to the
payments made to operate the many museums
The consultant team examined 14 years of and cultural centers with whom the department
departmental budgets, starting in fiscal year 2011 partners such as the Kansas City Zoo, the
and up through the recently adopted budget World War I Museum and Liberty Memorial,
for fiscal year 2024. In all cases, the source and Starlight Theater. Golf Course Operations
material was the annual Kansas City activity cover all costs associated with the maintenance
budget book publicly available on the city’s and upkeep of the department’s five municipal
Office of Budget website. During this time, the courses. Planning and Design costs include the
department’s overall budget has increased by professional staff within the department, as well
roughly 30% from $56.6M to $77.3M. However, as outside consultants hired to plan and design
its size, relative to the overall city budget, has improvements to the parks and facilities. Finally,
diminished, dropping from 4.77% of the city’s Parks and Recreation Administration refers to the
budget to just 3.75%. The doughnut charts costs necessary to manage the department.

Department Expeditures 2010-2011 Department Expenditures 2023-2024
1% 3%
9%
Natural Resources 5% 7% Natural Resources
Capital Improvements
8% 34% Community Services 9% Capital Improvements
42% Community Services
Cultural Facilities 8% Cultural Facilities
Golf Course Operations
16% Golf Course Operations
Planning & Design
Planning & Design
Parks & Rec Admin 19% Parks & Rec Admin
29% Debt Service 10%

Figure 5.6: KCMO Parks & Recreation Department Figure 5.7: KCMO Parks & Recreation Department
Expenditures 2010-2011 Expenditures 2023-2024

74 KANSAS CITY PARKS MASTER PLAN