2025 was a good year for the North Cariboo Recreation and Parks budget.
Jeff Norburn, the Director of Community Services, delivered the good news at Tuesday (March 17) night’s Joint Advisory Committee meeting.
“The net impact of the Municipal Operating Contract and Contracted Services on the 2025 North Cariboo Recreation and Parks budget is a surplus of approximately $80,550.”
Norburn noted that the money could be used in the future to absorb budget shortfalls, be applied to capital reserves, or be used to reduce taxation levels required to subsidize services.
He also broke down where the surplus came from.
“In 2025 the Municipal Contract, the operating budget that includes city operated facilities like the Arts and Recreation Centre and arenas, was under-budget by approximately $75,250. Contracted Services, a portion of the operating budget that includes fee for service agreements with entities like the Alex Fraser Park Society, the School District, the Gold Rush Cycling Club, was under-budget by approximately $5,300.”
Revenue was also up.
“Revenues for the Municipal Operating Contract, so that’s the arts and recreation centre and the arenas, were significantly higher than projected, approximately $285,183, which can be attributed to higher than anticipated pool and weight room admissions, higher than anticipated registration in aquatic, first aid, and general recreation programs, junior hockey rentals and concession sales at the West Fraser Centre.”
Norburn said that expenses were up by $209,927 but that the two were related.
“For example if we have higher concession sales then we have a corresponding increase in staffing costs and food purchases in order to support those higher revenues. Increases in program revenues result in a corresponding increase in contract instructor and staffing costs, and junior hockey games result in higher staff costs for extra cleaning of spectator areas.”
One of the only blemishes in the budget was a line item that indicated that the Joint Advisory Committee lost approximately $21,000 from hosting the Snotty Nose Rez Kids concert last June.
