WEIRTON — The beginning of the calendar year, for many governmental entities, often means planning for the budget of the next fiscal year.

That was part of the focus for the Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation Thursday, as Parks Exeuctive Director Coty Shingle presented the board with a proposed budget to support recreational operations in the city for the 2026-2027 fiscal year set to begin July 1.

“What I have in there is really a preliminary budget,” Shingle explained during Thursday morning’s board meeting.

A major component of the Parks budget is an allotment provided through the City of Weirton’s General Fund, which featured a distribution of $1.5 million for the current fiscal year. Previous years would see Parks receive an allotment of $700,000.

“I’d like to get the same amount we did last year,” he said.

The request will be made as part of formal budget discussions by Weirton Council over the next two months, as it crafts the General Fund and Coal Severance budgets which must both be finalized by the end of March.

Shingle explained he is appreciative of the increased support from Weirton Council in the last couple of years, but noted increases in employee healthcare costs by 18 percent, employee pay raises received last summer, anticipated increases in utility costs at the community center, and revenue lost as a result of the four-month closure of the swimming pool at the Millsop Community Center will have an impact on future financial planning.

Ward 4 Councilman Rick Stead, who serves on the Park Board, said there also are projects remaining for the board to tackle, including ongoing improvement plans at the Millsop Community Center, Starvaggi Memorial Park and Marland Heights Park.

“There are still things that need to be done,” Stead said.

Shingle said he currently has plans for $171,000 in improvements to the Millsop Center. That is in addition to the upcoming completion of the South Wall restoration project.

In addition, the board continues its plans for the replacement of the vessel at Starvaggi Pool, and are nearing completion of Phase 1 of projects at Marland Heights with a grand opening celebration being planned in the spring.