The debate is just beginning on what cuts may be coming to Dallas parks and recreation services as the city deals with a budget shortfall. At Thursday’s park board meeting, staff outlined a proposed $14 million cut to the park’s budget, citing the challenges faced by the city affecting all d epartments. Suggested cuts included closing some smaller community recreation centers, reducing hours, scaling back after-school programs and summer camps, reducing staff and less frequent park maintenance, like mowing. The cuts were met with resistance by some board members. “These things have a much larger ripple effect. They directly impact your quality of life,” said District 14 park board member Rudi Karimi. Karimi stressed nothing is final, and this is the early stages of a discussion that will continue throughout the summer, but he urged people to become engaged in the budget debate. “Advocacy, that’s what needs to happen,” said Karimi. “We need our council members to hear how important these parks are to our parents, grandparents, our children and hope that they find better places to cut money from because I believe there are so many better places to look for savings in our city.” Any budget cuts would take effect at the start of the next fiscal year in October. Park staff is expected to explore other ways to generate revenue before revisiting the discussion. Dallas city leaders are warning of difficult decisions ahead as the city faces a projected $34 million budget shortfall driven largely by rising costs. City Council members got their first look at the current-year budget gap Wednesday, with nearly all of the deficit tied to increased overtime for police and fire departments, along with higher-than-expected medical insurance costs for city employees. ...read more read less