MORGANTOWN – Morgantown’s Board of Parks and Recreation on Wednesday approved a $9,036,993 budget for the upcoming 2027 fiscal year.
That number represents a significant reduction over the previous three budgeting cycles – roughly $13.9 million in FY 2024; $12.5 million in FY 2025 and $14.3 in the current fiscal year.
While there are some reductions in the amount of money coming in, including an overall $250,000 reduction in the amount of funding allocated by the city, the reason behind the budget reduction is more about the money going out – specifically sales tax revenue.
Morgantown’s 1% sales tax took effect in July 2020 and has historically brought the city annual revenues ranging from $9.5 million to $10 million. Per the tax’s enabling legislation, 25% of that total goes to BOPARC.
As a result, BOPARC’s recent budgets have grown dramatically, primarily due to the amount of sales tax revenue it was carrying forward in anticipation of both major capital projects and a prolonged systemwide effort to address years of deferred maintenance.
For example, the $14.3 million budget approved this time last year included $8.4 million in sales tax dollars, $6.1 million of which was carryover.
This time around, the overall amount of sales taxes reflected in the budget is $5.1 million, including $2.46 million in anticipated sales tax carryover and $2.65 million in new revenue for the upcoming fiscal year.
The difference is reflected in a laundry list of large and small projects either recently completed or in progress across BOPARC properties.
In other words, the money is being put to work.
BOPARC has invested approximately $2 million in sales tax revenue in playground projects across the system; $1.5 million in support of the Morgantown Ice Arena project; $550,000 in improvements for the Dorsey’s Knob Lodge and property; $500,000 for new tennis, pickleball and basketball courts and other amenities at Krepps Park; and $400,000 to put a new roof on the Wiles Hill Community Center, among numerous smaller expenditures.
Further, BOPARC Executive Director Greg Travinski explained that of the $2.65 million in new sales tax revenue expected in the upcoming fiscal year, $1.86 million is already obligated to cover bond payments for the new pool complex in upper Marilla Park and the complete overhaul of the park’s lower portion currently in progress. Another $675,000 in sales tax revenue is earmarked for new and ongoing projects in FY 2027.
“It’s important to note that while the total budget represents $9 million, approximately $1.9 million of that is already covered by bond obligations,” he said, adding, “I know it’s always a thing, like, ‘Hey, BOPARC has all these funds to spend,’ but I wanted to show that, while we do, we have a very limited amount, and we want to kind of build that back up responsibly.”
While the numbers are dwarfed by the sales tax, BOPARC also anticipates a reduction in the amount of county levy dollars it has on hand in the coming year.
The current BOPARC budget includes $945,000 in revenue generated by the countywide parks and trails levy. Travinski anticipates carrying $226,993 of that total forward and receiving $270,000 in levy revenue for FY 2027.
He said the levy carryover will be used as part of the funding for the new courts included in the lower Marilla Park project.
Beyond the $5.1 million in sales taxes, $1.8 million allocation from the city and $496,993 in levy funds, BOPARC anticipates about $1.1 million in self-generated revenue. Those sources include $350,000 in admission fees; $230,000 in registration and activity fees; $160,000 in facility rentals; $155,000 in concessions and $90,000 in seasonal passes, among others.
Of BOPARC’s $9 million projected budget, roughly a third, or $2.9 million, will be used for salaries and wages, health insurance and other personnel-related expenses.
