2012 Budget Summary - Chicago Park District

Detailed ExpensesParks and ProgrammingThe District is comprised of 8,300 acres of parklandand 572 parks branched into three regions, Central,North, and South. Ninety-three percent of thestaffing is dedicated to delivering programs andmaintaining the parks. The associated expendituresat the park level fund personnel, programming,equipment and supplies.2012 Total Hours Budgeted PerRegionNorth20%South22%Central22%CentralAdmin1%Central AdministrationExpenditures in this category are to support theAdministrative Departments’ budgets. Thesedepartments are responsible for the management ofthe District’s day-to-day activities including financial management, human resources, legal, andcommunications. Approximately 1% of the budgeted hours in 2012 are dedicated to CentralAdministration. In 2012, non-personnel expense levels were reduced an average of 10%.Debt ServiceAt 22%, debt services makes up the second most significant expense for the District. Debtservice relates to the payments made for principal and interest on general obligation long -termdebt of the District. Debt service expenses is budgeted to increase $2.8 million in 2012 (a 3.2%increase) over the 2011 budget due to the inclusion of payments for the new hard at 31 st street.This increase was minimized through a 2011 debt refunding that saved the District $1.4 million.UtilitiesUtility expenses are remaining fairly stable as a result of the District locking in low rates for bothelectricity and natural gas. By using more energy efficient heating and cooling systems, as wellas lighting systems, we continue to reduce the amount of energy used for your park facilities.We have reduced our electricity usage by 9% and our natural gas usage by 15% (comparingusage data from 2008, through 2010) by moving to more green sources of energy. The mostprominent increase in utility payments relates to a recent increase in water rates. Total utilityrelated expenses in 2012 are expected to be $24.7 million.Lincoln Park ZooDistrictwide44%The District provides funding for the Lincoln Park Zoo each year; $5.6 million is earmarked tosupport the Lincoln Park Zoo and assist in their management of the Indian Boundary Zoo, whichis a small public zoo housed in the District’s Indiana Boundary Park, tucked away in the WestRidge neighborhood.52