Park and Rec Commission readies pushback on town's self-funding plan

SUDBURY -- November 12, 2024, Park and Rec readies FinCom case against shifting department onto user fees. The Sudbury Park and Recreation Commission spent its Nov. 12 meeting preparing a Nov. 18 Finance Committee presentation pushing back on a town manager proposal to pull municipal funding from the department and shift costs onto the revolving fund. Chair Ben, Member Mara Huston and Park and Recreation Director Dennis will attend; Vice Chair Laurie Eliason and Members Robert Beagan and Granger will be represented. Dennis said the Field Enterprise Fund faces $180,000 to $200,000 in fixed parks-and-grounds salary obligations against roughly $210,000 to $220,000 in fee revenue and ran a deficit last year. Huston warned that forcing self-funding would create "a downward spiral" as fees rise and enrollment falls, while Eliason pressed for the presentation to highlight Sudbury Summer camp as essential childcare for working families.