Page 81 - KCMO Parks Master Plan 2032

Department Funding 2010-2011 Department Funding 2023-2024
1% 3%
2%
0%
1%
15% Parks and Recreaton Parks and Recreaton
29% Capital Improvements 10% Capital Improvements
Golf Operations Golf Operations
16% General Fund 17% General Fund
Museum Museum
General Debt & Interest 66% General Debt & Interest
9% Street Maintenance Street Maintenance
31% Other Other

Figure 5.8: KCMO Parks & Recreation Department Figure 5.9: KCMO Parks & Recreation Department
Funding 2010-2011 Funding 2023-2024

These spending allocations have remained past 14 years. It is important to understand
consistent over the 14 fiscal years examined some basics about how the City of Kansas City,
by the consultant team. In a few cases, the Missouri organizes its budget. Governmental
monies devoted to these allocations have also activities in KCMO are funded by one of four
remained consistent, such as Cultural Facilities types of funds. The General Fund is the largest - it
and Golf. However, the slices of the doughnut comprises about 30% of the city’s annual budget
have changed for several reasons. Together, and is mostly funded by property taxes and fees.
the planning and design and parks and rec Special Revenue Funds are a constellation of 53
admin allocations have tripled in size from a separate funds established for specific purposes,
collective 4% in FY2011 to 12% in FY2024. Natural often by the vote of citizens, and they comprise
Resources has always been the largest slice of another 23% of the city budget. Then you have
the doughnut, mainly due to the massive size of Debt Funds which help pay for resources through
the department’s land holdings. Nonetheless, accumulated debt such as general obligation
this allocation has grown from a third of the bonds. Lastly, is the Capital Improvement Fund
department’s budget in FY2011 to nearly half in which is supported by grants and taxes and pays
the present day. The only allocation to shrink has for capital improvements not otherwise financed
been that associated with Capital Improvements. by special revenue funds or debt.
In FY2011, the department spent over $17M
on capital improvements while in FY2024, it’s The Parks and Recreation Department has
budgeted to spend just $7.9M. Over the past five traditionally received funding from three of
years, the department has averaged just under those sources: the General Fund, the Capital
$8.9M in capital improvement spending, a trend Improvement Fund, and a handful of Special
that is concerning considering how the great the Revenue Funds, such as the Museum, Golf
need is for improvements to parks and facilities Course Operations, and Parks and Recreation
across the system. Special Revenue Funds. The balance of that
funding has shifted dramatically in the last 14
Funding years. In FY2011, the largest amount of funding

for the department came from the Capital
The above doughnuts together show how the Improvement Fund at 31%, closely followed by the
funding of this department has evolved in the Parks and Recreation Special Revenue Fund at

75