Recreation facilities and programs around the county will shut down for three days in 2010, as part of an effort to balance the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority’s budget.

“There were some tough decisions that had to be made,” said board member David Mathis, who chairs the RFPRA finance committee.

The authority accepted on Monday a proposed $3.8 million spending plan for next year, down from $4 million in 2009. It includes freezing two vacant positions, which will put the total number of staffers at 40, down from 44 in 2003.

Chairman Larry Hestely said the committee discussed raising program and rental fees to make ends meet but decided against the additional burden on residents during tough economic times.

But Hestely pointed out that the RFPRA has taken on additional responsibilities in recent years without a corresponding increase in funding from the governments.

“We are being frugal,” he said.

An early casualty is the play-in fountain at the new Town Green, which is maintained to swimming pool standards. RFPRA Executive Director Richard Garland said the work takes a staffer two hours each day, and the parks department cannot afford to divert the payroll.

Garland said he told Assistant County Manager Blaine Williams “If the RFPRA is responsible for the fountain, then it will not be operational again until April.”

Sparring over North Floyd Park

Authority members also expressed disappointment, tinged with annoyance, that the Floyd County Commission did not approve the purchase of fitness equipment for the North Floyd Park Recreation Center under construction in Armuchee.

“The spending was already approved,” Iris Kinnebrew said. “This is a (special purpose, local option sales tax) project and SPLOST money was raised for that purpose.”

Commissioners said last week the RFPRA should focus the limited furnishings allowance on “the basics.” They also raised concerns about liability — since there is no funding for full-time staff — and competition with private businesses.

Frank Brown said the RFPRA’s fitness center was closed because it competed with private business, but the North Floyd fitness room would offer only treadmills, ellipticals and stationary bikes.

There would be no free weights so safety would not be an issue, he said, and the room would be open only when organized activities are taking place in the building.

The 25,000-square-foot center — now slated to open in mid-February — features two regulation basketball courts, a multipurpose room, an activity room, a game room and a fitness room.

“It was designed to have a fitness room,” Mathis said.

County Commissioner Eddie Lumsden said he wasn’t aware of all the specifics, but would pass along the comments to the full commission.

“We need better communication,” he said.

A joint meeting will likely be scheduled, with the fitness equipment as one of the agenda items.

Meanwhile, Lumsden expressed appreciation for the RFPRA’s efforts to operate programs and facilities on a limited budget. But he also warned that the situation is unlikely to improve next year.

“You’re only one entity funded by the commission, and 68 percent of our budget is committed to constitutionally mandated items,” he said. “Recreation is a very important quality-of-life issue, but we’re in tough economic times.”

Click here to watch the North Floyd Park construction video.

Click here to see a PDF with blueprints.