TOLEDO, Ohio —
The Toledo Parks and Youth Services proposed a cut to the youth services general fund in its 2024 budget at a city council meeting Thursday.
The fund's amended 2023 total is $327,112, while the proposed 2024 total is $265,276 — a $51.836 difference that amounts to a 16% reduction.
Most of the expenses include labor, pension, and employment taxes and medical.
Services, which were $58,759 for 2023, were budgeted for $1,225. Supplies and services have been "virtually zeroed out for 2024" according to the proposal, which also notes the need to use $40,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Founded in 2021, the department maintains over 100 parks in the city and tries to connect children with positive activities to do in the community. Despite the proposed cuts, Deputy Mayor Abby Arnold said services will not be stopped.
"We felt like we can still deliver that service to the community through our ARPA dollars for this year," she said.
City council member John Hobbs said he is nervous that youth violence numbers may increase with the proposed cuts.
"To make that amount of cuts, that amount of money to be taken away from that particular entity, is going to be disruptive in the positive upflow that we have going toward youth violence in our city," he said.
Hobbs said he wants to work with fellow council member Vanice Williams to see if there is a way to reduce the cuts. The council has until March 31 to approve the budget.
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