The City of Waukesha Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board on Monday unanimously recommended the departments proposed 2026 executive operating budget and approved its 2026 meeting schedule.

The recommendation to forward the budget to the finance committee passed on a motion by Steve Johnson, seconded by Sarah Roth, and a unanimous vote by board members present. The board also unanimously approved the departments proposed 2026 meeting dates on a motion by Eric Hummer and second by John Schmitz.

The budget presentation, led by Ron (Director, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department), described the departments operating request as essentially flat. "Our overall budget is truly flat," Ron said, noting the departments general fund request is down about 0.7% year-over-year while meeting the citys financial management program targets.

Why it matters: The boards recommendation sends the departments spending plan to the city finance committee for a final funding recommendation and then to the full council, where adoption was scheduled for Nov. 4, according to meeting remarks.

Budget priorities and program highlights

Department staff walked the board through major strategies that shaped the 2026 proposal: increased use of volunteers, expanded contractual services, growth of self-supporting special revenue funds, investment in technology and an emphasis on partnerships and sponsorships.

Ron and division managers emphasized volunteers as a cost-saving and service-expansion tool. The department reported roughly 37,000 volunteer hours valued at more than $1 million and proposed moving the volunteer coordinator position from part time (20 hours per week) to full time to manage growing demand.

Pools and cabana pilot

Mark Thompson (Recreation staff member) described a proposed $50,000 investment in rentable pool cabanas at Buckner and Horeb pools$30,000 for Buckner, $20,000 for Horeb. The staff projection estimated about $28,400 in first-year rental revenue at a 30% occupancy rate, with potential to reach $47,300 at 50% occupancy and $75,000 at 80% occupancy. Thompson said that, historically, the combined annual subsidy for the two pools ranged between $80,000 and $100,000; the cabana revenue could substantially reduce that subsidy over several years.

"These are very conservative revenue numbers," Mark Schramm (Manager, Parks and Recreation Administration) said of some program accounts while explaining the department did not want to overstate expected income from new partnerships.

Special revenue funds and youth programs

The board heard that special revenue funds remain a major financing tool: the department reported it operates more than $1 million in programming through special revenue funds that do not draw on the citys tax levy. Staff said they anticipate the parks and recreation special revenue fund to show a net revenue increase in 2026 of about $76,000, driven by new school-site before-and-after programs (Meadowbrook Elementary was added) and stronger concession/TurboChef performance.

On before-and-after-school programs and grant support, staff said the department is in year four of a five-year federal/state grant cycle for community learning centers at Hawthorne and Hadfield. Grant levels have fluctuated; staff said one school was set at $100,000 and another at $80,000 in planning materials, and the program was funded for the coming school year but that future funding remains uncertain.

Facilities, technology and operations

Staff described several operational and capital changes put forward in the budget: expansion of keyless entry systems (13 locations now covering more than 45 doors, with about 12 more locations on the 2025 docket), a continued shared-resources arrangement with public works (including snow operations and fleet reorganization), and use of contractual services for medians, tree planting and stump grinding.

The Mineola Pavilion project was described as the departments top CIP project for 2026; staff said the pavilion would not open in 2026 but the goal is substantial completion of construction work and a grand opening in 2027, pending the normal engineering and design schedule.

Forestry, maintenance and capital notes

Melissa Lipska (Park maintenance and forestry staff) reported park and grounds work continuing into fall, including retaining-wall replacement at Hoard Park and other capital maintenance. She said the forestry crew is at full capacity and that the department continues a multi-year program addressing emerald ash borer; staff estimated about 3,000 ash trees remain in the city and said treatment prolongs life but will not prevent eventual loss.

Other items reported

- A pair of goal sets (four goals total) valued at about $5,000 were accepted as an in-kind donation from Rock Ventures/SC Wave and transferred to the city for local use.
- Frame Park turf-replacement savings from an agreement with Carroll University stood at about $100,000 in a set-aside fund with annual $20,000 contributions from the parties; that fund is expected to be about $120,000 by the end of next year.
- The department plans to update the park and recreation system master plan (the accreditation-required document), replacing a plan that dates to 2007.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: "Approve the proposed 2026 Executive Operating Budget for Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department"; Mover: Steve Johnson; Second: Sarah Roth; Vote: unanimous (Eric Hummer: yes; Steve Johnson: yes; Sarah Roth: yes; John Schmitz: yes; Jennifer Wallner: yes); Outcome: approved (recommendation to finance committee).

- Motion: "Approve the proposed 2026 Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Board meeting schedule"; Mover: Eric Hummer; Second: John Schmitz; Vote: unanimous (Eric Hummer: yes; Steve Johnson: yes; Sarah Roth: yes; John Schmitz: yes; Jennifer Wallner: yes); Outcome: approved.

What the board directed

Board discussion included questions about historical accounting shifts (one board member asked why personnel rose sharply between 2022 and 2023 and staff explained some positions moved between funds), the timing of the Mineola Pavilion work, and details about cabana sizing and rental options (staff said cabanas would seat roughly six and be rentable by hour, half-day or full day). No member asked staff to revise major budget components before the recommendation vote.

Next steps

With the boards recommendation, staff said the finance committee would take the departments budget up at its meeting the following week; council adoption was described as scheduled for Nov. 4. If the city council adopts the budget as recommended, some initiatives described in the meetings presentation (for example, the volunteer coordinator conversion to full time and cabana purchases) will move into implementation planning.

Ending note

Board members and staff thanked the budget team by name for preparation and presentation of a largely flat operating request amid several capital projects and program expansions.