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The Saratoga City Council has given its recreation department a directive, and now Joan Pisani and her rec staff are out to get even. Don't get the idea that this is the beginning of a feud in Saratoga, though--Pisani and her staff are simply answering the council's call.
It's no secret that Saratoga is facing a critical budget crisis. So the council has directed the recreation department to break even in the coming fiscal year. It's a directive that Pisani seems to feel that her department can live with.
It makes perfect sense, really. The rec department offers fee-based programs, and by offering more activities at slightly higher prices, balancing its budget is well within the department's control--in fact, it might even be able to make a few dollars, which wouldn't upset the city council one bit.
Given Pisani's track record, anything is possible. Under her leadership the department was able to recover all it spent a few years ago, and last year it came within 13 percent of breaking even.
Residents will be faced with a 10 percent increase in class fees after July 1, but that seems to be a small price to pay to maintain services and programs.
What business can or should survive operating at a loss? So the council's message is really very clear--run the recreation department like a business, and keep it in the black.
Pisani appears ready and capable of answering that call. Now, if other departments in the city could do the same, Saratoga just might be able to get through this budget crisis.
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