The Washington County Sports Foundation, which operates Hagerstown's ice rink, expects rink operations to cost roughly $204,000 more than the rink will take in over the next 12 months, according to a budget presented to Hagerstown's Mayor and City Council on Tuesday.
The projected deficit was expected, and the formal budget shows that the city's previously approved contribution to the rink should be sufficient, said City Finance Director Al Martin.
The foundation was required to present the city with a formal budget under the terms of a $450,000 contribution to the foundation the council approved last month. The city grant, which paid back bills and provided funding for the next winter season, also required the foundation to hire an executive director and present monthly financial reports to the mayor and council.
Jamie Shyda, the newly hired executive director of the rink, told the mayor and council that the budget projections are based on a 10 percent increase in use of the rink.
