Arlington Libraries and Parks and Recreation budgets were up for review at yesterday's County Board - County Manager FY15 Budget Work Session. While the Library System's budget and operations were scrutinized Parks and Recreation was given the go ahead for more extravagant spending for a wide range of activities, including a redesigned Longbridge Park Aquatics Center, which will include almost all, if not all, the previously-included aquatic amenities.
Based on questions by the County Board yesterday afternoon the Library System and Parks and Recreation are expected to operate under different management criteria. The Library System is required to justify its existence while Parks and Recreation is allowed an extravagant budget to fund a wide range of extravagant infrastructure and activities (e,g., the James Hunter Dog Park, architect and consultant designed playgrounds, purchase and demolition of a home adjacent to Douglas Park for open space).
The most cost-saving activity the Library System is engaged in, the photovoltaic arrays installed on the roof of Central Library funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, was barely mentioned. However, the photovoltaic arrays are saving a substantial amount that would be spent for electricity. Unfortunately, these savings are offset by the Library System having to pay for the Signature Theater's utilities in their shared Shirlington building.
In addition to a 7% budget increase for FY 15, Parks and Recreation will have $12 million in one-time paygo funds. Parks and Rec also has money stashed in various slush funds. So look for more of the same from Parks and Rec, neither County Manager nor County Board expects anything else from them.
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18 comments:
So, having already bailed out the Signature to the tune of $250,000, Arlington taxpayers are now having to pay the Signature's monthly utility bills?
Library System has to hold book sales while Parks and Rec gets extravagant playgrounds funded via paygo on the County Board's consent agenda.
Latest is the water slides will stay in the Aquatic Center's design.
"Having to pay for the Signature Theater's utilities..." Says who? Giveaway Jay Fisette?
Arlington is home of the Creative Class all right. Creative bartending class, creative yoga class, creative skateboarding class, creative aquatics class...
Why isn't the County demanding that in-fill developers defray the cost of upgrading older parks and playgrounds?
Yes, where's the philanthropy? These REITs all have noble statements about "corporate responsibility" on their Web sites.
How about Boeing contributing a high tech water slide to the Aquatics Center Boeing employees will use often?
Where is the elevator so disabled local residents in need of aquatic therapy can slide into the pool?
Where is the ADA-compliant water slide for the therapy pool?
Where is the LGBT-complaint water slide for the hedo pool?
Signature's utilities bill is at least $100,000 per year - lighting, heat, air conditioning.
Where is the hetero swingers-complaint water slide for the nude only party pool?
Where is the Holy Roller Sacred Baptismal Pool?
Where is the water slide into the Top Secret pool for Boeing employees and their military and fellow defense contractor guests?
That's why a big secret contribution is required from Boeing - to hide the Boeing water slide's secret location.
Can't blame Zimmy anymore...Gourmet Jay and Whitlow's Mary share the blame from now on.
Fifty Meter pool will be included, together with therapy pools. Anything else in the redesigned Aquatics Center depends on who wins on April 8th.
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