Future of Shaffer and Liberty parks still uncertain
Possible budget cuts by the city of Hillsboro could put the future of both Richard Shaffer Park and Liberty Park in jeopardy.
Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Rick Giroux told The Highland County Press this week, "Based on the substantial deficit the city will experience next year, the park system will more than likely be a casualty of the staggering cuts that will have to be made in order to have a balanced 2013 budget."
The Hillsboro City Council Finance Committee said that cuts will have to be aggressive, Giroux said.
"Due to the level of deficit next year, I would imagine that council would not budget for the parks at all in 2013."
Shaffer Park began hosting games in 1961 after local Little League games were moved from the Highland County Fairgrounds, where organized games were first hosted in 1954.
Shaffer Park – named after longtime park director and American Legion baseball coach Dick Shaffer – currently hosts five summer baseball leagues and at least three softball leagues, including the American Legion Post 129 team and the annual Tournament of Champions. The park is also the home baseball field for Hillsboro High School.
Liberty Park hosts the youth football program, tee-ball and numerous youth soccer games.
The pending budget cuts at both parks by the city would save the city approximately $42,000 at Shaffer Park and $58,000 at Liberty Park. The projected 2013 deficit will be in the $1,100,000 range according to Giroux.
During a July 12 press conference, Hillsboro City Auditor Gary Lewis said the city is facing a projected negative balance of $670,572 by the end of 2013, leading into a negative starting balance of $420,572 the following year, unless significant cuts are made in the budget.
Lewis said that the fiscally responsible option for the Hillsboro City Council was to contract with the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District for services. However, even if the city had entered into such a service agreement, a 15-percent cut in general fund departments would still be necessary, he said.
On July 25, Hillsboro City Council voted, 4-2, to reject the proposal to join the Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District. Council members Dave Shoemaker, Mary Brown Turner, Brian Waller and Bonnie Parr voted "no," while council members Bill Alexander and Peter Pence voted in the affirmative.
"The deficit number may vary depending upon the city auditor’s final revenue estimates for 2013," Giroux said. "The park system budget for Shaffer and Liberty combined is about $100,000 or about 9 percent of the deficit. The city budgets about $42,000 a year for Shaffer Park, which primarily covers the cost of Mr. Bruce Davis’ services and several seasonal laborers, electricity, mowing, maintenance, etc.
"Liberty’s budget is about $58,000 per year and covers the cost of Mr. George Stroemer’s services, electricity, mowing, maintenance, etc."
The vote to keep the fire department in Hillsboro, along with many of the townships deciding to go elsewhere for fire department services have resulted in the city losing thousands of dollars of shared labor costs.
None of the proposed cuts will become official unless approved by city council, Giroux said.
The proposed cuts from both parks include the entire remaining 2012 budget balances – approximately $30,000 from Shaffer Park and approximately $12,000 from Liberty Park.
The 2013 budgets for the parks have not been determined.
Meanwhile, the Hillsboro Recreation Commission which organizes Shaffer Park activities, has scheduled a meeting for 1 p.m. Aug. 12 at the ballpark, according to commission member David Grover.
Hillsboro City Council has a regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 13.