Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / cteconsulting
Over the last 3 years, the budget of the Mt. Airy Sports Complex in New Windsor, N.Y., has been significantly reduced while during the same period field usage more than tripled. This has forced an inevitable situation that many agencies find themselves in, to “do more with less.” After evaluating the budget, the parks and recreation department made several suggestions in order to achieve this goal:
Buy supplies in bulk. Instead of ordering supplies as needed, order for the entire season at once. Purchase all field clay, field paint, field chalk, field-drying agents, fertilizer, seed, garbage bags, toilet paper, paper towels, and miscellaneous items to save with bulk quantities. Make sure there is enough secure, dry storage available to accommodate all of these supplies.
Dodge the shipping bullet. With the rising cost of gasoline, the price of shipping has increased. Many companies are not only charging for freight, but also adding a fuel surcharge. If possible, use department trucks and manpower to pick up supplies and equipment. One word of caution: be sure the trucks are large enough, and are in reasonable condition with certified drivers to travel the distance.