by Jack Fogel
Director, Rock Island Parks and Recreation Dept.

Austerity budgeting along with increased demands should not exist at the same time but in almost all our cases, this play on words is well known by those of us in the field as Leisure Service providers. Our board members, commissioners and/or city fathers, whatever the case may be, keep reiterating the need to cut back and save money, yet no one wants less than they already have; and we as professionals are constantly looking towards legislators for means to increase our powers, provide outside funds and aid in our taxing abilities. Our desires are to continue to grow, not reduce. The struggle of these competing pressures are becoming more and more difficult.

Rock Island is no different than three hundred plus other park and recreation systems throughout the state. Our residents have become accustomed to an excellent, well planned, well manicured park and golf course operation and are ready and willing to enroll in the 250 to 300 recreational programs being offered in various centers and sites throughout the community. They, as almost all other tax payers, do not want an increase in their taxes, but at the same time, also refuse to give up the services they already have.

The Township "Workfare" Program has been one way that we found to keep up with our laboring force needs without increasing our payroll positions. "Workfare" activities are administered through the local Township Office. People who are in limited financial trouble may register their problem with the Township to determine if they are eligible to receive help. The Township will help recipients in three major areas i.e. rent, utilities and food. The Township pays directly to the landlord, utility company or grocery store and the recipient then "works it off" at the state's minimum wage scale of $2.30 per hour. Governmental agencies may receive these workers with the following stipulations.

1. Recipients may not replace a regular employee,

2. Maximum number of hours that can be worked is 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week,

3. Individuals cannot work past 6:00 P. M., and;

4. The recipients who perform work are to be covered by Workmen's Compensation,

The rules are very simple, clean and understandable by all those involved.

Rock Island's experience has been good. We have received skilled tradesmen as well as general laborers. Equipment operators, truck drivers, painters, carpenters, etc., enabled our maintenance division to perform work projects that have been on the "need to do" list for over a year. When we found an exceptional individual, we exercised our authority to "keep people on", after the Township had been paid off, to finish our job. This of course was done with the consent of the worker at an agreed hourly rate. In all cases, this never exceeded $4.00 per hour and was paid through our service account as "contractural labor."

The "Workfare" Program is open to all Illinois Townships. Check yours out to see if the Township Supervisors has exercised his or her right to administer the program. We have had over 75 separate individuals, in the last nine months, and less than 10 percent had to be sent back because of a bad work experience. You have the right to "fire" and once this is understood by all involved, progress can be made,

Illinois Parks and Recreation     23     May/June 1982