Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - The Syracuse Parks Department will cut services to make up for a $23,000 shortfall in its $95,600 approved budget for 1998.
Lakeside Park will not receive a new sidewalk, and the picnic table and tree replacement programs will be cancelled. The projects are funded through the capital budget, which will be dropped because of the shortage.
The park season will be shortened. The opening day will now be Memorial Day and the season will end on Labor Day.
The restroom hours will change as well. Lakeside Park's restrooms will remain closed except during weekends when the park is rented for special occurrences. Henry Ward will be locked as well, except on weekends.
The beach safety program will be cut by $2,000-$4,000. The lifeguard hours will change from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to noon to 5 p.m.
Other cuts include reducing the general repair budget by one- half, reducing the tree trimming budget by three-fourths, cutting maintenance hours, and not renewing the contract with True Green lawn care.
During a town council meeting, Susan Neff, superintendent of the Syracuse parks department, said, "The problem will right itself."
If the department takes out no loans, the problem should be resolved beginning June 1 of this year because of the cutbacks.
The reason for the shortage is unclear but, according to a staff member of the parks department, the problem lies in the distribution of the funds. The appropriate finances were requested and received from the state, but the budgeted amount was not allocated to the parks department budget.
Much of the shortage does not show up in the books, however, due to fund raising on the part of the parks department.
The department will continue its "Music in the Park" concert series, which begins August 13. The performances will be held every other Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Lakeside Park gazebo.
