St. Charles Park District Facing $1M Shortfall Due To Coronavirus

ST. CHARLES, IL — Before the coronavirus outbreak began in Illinois, St. Charles Park District officials were projecting a small surplus in this year’s operating budget. Now they are staring down a potential budget deficit of more than $1 million, according to a report by the Kane County Chronicle.

With most of its facilities closed down due to the pandemic, officials will have to temper their projections of $19.45 million in revenues.

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Pottawatomie Golf Course, one of the park district’s most popular facilities, reopened May 1 with new restrictions. After being forced to delay its spring opening, the golf course is expected to lose $130,000 this year, the report states.

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The Norris Recreation Center, Pottawatomie Community Center, Baker Community Center and other St. Charles Park District facilities are closed through May 30. The park district has shut down its playgrounds, basketball courts and other outdoor facilities through May 30, and it is unclear if Cove Aquatic Park and Swanson Pool will open this year.

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All special events through June 30 have been canceled or are being rescheduled. Park district officials have yet to make an announcement on the status of Fourth of July celebrations.

To bring down expenses, the St. Charles Park District reduced its part-time and seasonal staff this year, with just 82 people hired for those positions, according to the Kane County Chronicle. The park district employed 263 part-time and seasonal employees in May 2019, the report states.