Mid-year budget adjustments fund $150,000 for Rainbow Park artificial turf

The mid-year budget adjustments approved by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors on a 5-0 vote May 3 included appropriating $150,000 for artificial turf at Rainbow Park.

"That funding will provide an infill project that is environmentally sensitive and also reduces surface temperature," said county Department of Parks and Recreation director Brian Albright.

Although synthetic turf does not require water for irrigation, watering is sometimes used to cool the field. The alternative infill surface is designed to reduce field temperatures, which reduces the need for water and also makes the field more comfortable during summer months.

"We're going to be using that product at several other fields around the county," Albright said.

The turf installation at Rainbow Park is expected to begin this summer and be complete by late fall or early winter.

The third-quarter adjustments increase 2015-16 general fund expenditures by $2,896,582 while the budget for all other funds, including the capital budget, was decreased by $48,287,364 primarily due to the completion of the Las Colinas Detention and Re-entry Facility for $55.1 million under the budgeted amount. The county had a balance of $245.1 million in its general fund for the first three quarters of Fiscal Year 2015-16 due to revenue exceeding the budgeted amount by $30.4 million, operations expenses totaling $171.2 million less than what was budgeted, and $43.5 million in unspent contingency and management reserves.