Warsaw Park Board reviewed and approved the Parks and Recreation Department’s three 2018 budgets Tuesday.

The city council still must review and approve them.

Parks and Recreation Department Superintendent Larry Plummer went through the proposed budgets with the board.

The first budget was for Parks and Recreation operations, which is proposed at $2,370,416 for 2018, a 2 percent increase over the 2017 proposed budget of $2,328,399.

For the operations budget, Plummer said he was asked to put a 3 percent increase in salaries and wages for employees as established by the mayor and city council in ordinance form. With that increase, the total salaries and wages would go from $931,059 in 2017 to $958,991 in 2018. Insurance is up a little bit so he was instructed to put a 15 percent increase in there, putting medical insurance at $395,025 for 2018, up from $305,436 in 2017; PERF at $84,000, up from $81,278 in 2017; FICA at $73,500, up from $71,226 in 2017; and unemployment would remain the same at $5,000.

Office supplies for 2018 was left the same as 2017 at $3,200; operating supplies will remain the same in 2018 as in 2017 at $98,800; and repair and maintenance supplies will decrease by 12 percent to $115,700, Plummer indicated. Meals for snow removal crew will remain at $300.

In professional services, Plummer said a 15 percent increase is proposed due to a new payroll system that would cost the department $10,000. Professional services would total $79,600.

In explaining the new payroll system, Plummer said, “All the departments are looking at a payroll system kind of like the county has right now.” Right now, he said they use a punch time clock, which requires several hours of secretary Heather Frazier’s time. The new system would streamline the process and take 15-20 minutes. Plummer said the city was looking into the new payroll system and Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Christiansen was looking into another one.

Communication and transportation would increase 48 percent to $43,000 due to the city looking for a central server at City Hall that all departments that employees would be connected to. New software for the park department would allow the public to go online and register for park activities. Plummer said they don’t know the cost for the central server to his department but he budgeted funds for it.

Remaining the same for 2018 as 2017 will be printing and advertising, $22,000; insurance (liability, worker’s comp, etc.), $44,100; and utility services, $134,400.

Repairs and maintenance will see a 12 percent increase to $99,300 because of $30,000 for a new basketball court at Richardson-Dubois park.

Rentals will remain at $25,500 for 2018, while other services and charges (landfill, professional memberships, etc.) will remain at $82,200.

Capital outlays (machinery and equipment) will decrease 42 percent to $103,900 because there were more capital purchases planned for 2017. Expenses for 2018 include $40,000 for the replacement of playground equipment at Kelly Park, as well as other pieces of equipment.

The second budget is the nonreverting fund. It is proposed at $15,650 for 2018, an increase of $1,000 over 2017 for the new park program Coffee & Canvas.

The third budget covers the fireman’s building and Nye Youth Cabin. The 2018 budget totals $57,000 and funds will be used to pave the parking lot at the fireman’s building for $25,000; install new fencing around the building for $20,000; and $12,000 for new siding, fascia and guttering.

“This budget is something that we don’t use all the time. That’s what it’s used for,” Plummer said, adding it’s only the second time in the last five years the budget’s been used.