Sales Tax Revenue Help Restore Services At Sacramento Recreation Centers

The City of Sacramento Parks Department says new sales tax revenue will help restore some of the services that were lost during the recession.

The addition of $4.6 million dollars from voter-approved Measure U will allow some, but not all, park operations to be fully restored to pre-recession levels.

Parks Director Jim Combs says ten pools and five community centers will open this summer and will offer a full slate of programs for children and teenagers. 

But, Combs says the department continues to rely on volunteers to help maintain city parks.

"I know that we still struggle and we're not getting to the little fine touches and stuff,” says Combs. “But, without them, the level of service would be way down."

Combs says the department is now staffed at about 60 percent of what it was before the recession.

To fill the void, non-profits have taken over operations of some community centers and 160 young people volunteer to pull weeds, pick up trash and attend to minor maintenance tasks each summer.