BELGRADE — Linda Bacon is banking on the town’s recreation programs bringing in more than $100,000 in revenue this year.

The chairman of the Board of Parks and Recreation said more people are taking advantage of opportunities made available to them at the Belgrade Center For All Seasons.

Bacon said last year the board set an ambitious target of $80,000 in program revenues. Final revenues came in slightly lower at $77,361.

Because last year’s expenses were $101,770, the cost of delivering recreational programming was $24,409 — a reduction of 43 percent from 2010.

Residents will vote at town meeting March 17 to support the center’s operating budget and recreational programs. They’ll also be asked to spend $150,000 to buy property next to the center and $100,000 to repair the roof.

Bacon said the center’s roof has had water damage from ice buildup. Her board wants half of that cost to come out of the recreation capitol reserve fund.

This year the programing budget is $139,302, up from $107,000 from last year, to include Camp Loon for teens, allocations for new activities, scholarships, and an adjustment to staffing.

She said there was no general increase in wages for staff, but some employees who had increased duties after the recreation director’s contract didn’t get renewed in November got increases.

“There was an increase in hours for one staff position and the addition of Camp Loon for teens, which is expected to have revenues exceed expenses as it did in 2011,” she said.

Valencia Schubert became recreation director Feb. 27

The former executive director of the Children’s Discovery Museum in Augusta “is a Belgrade resident and comes to us with lots of ideas and enthusiasm,” Bacon said.

Bacon said revenue comes from rentals, fundraising events and pay-to-play opportunities such as adult basketball on Sunday and Wednesday nights and Zumba fitness class on Tuesday nights.

She said the first $75,000 of revenue that comes in this year will go into the town’s general fund to defray the cost of programing. If programs earn more than that, Bacon said she hopes the excess amount can be put back into the recreation reserve account.

“We’ll be voting at the town meeting whether or not that can go back into the recreation reserve account,” she said. “Hopefully, that will pass. Having a little bit of a cushion in that account allows to take care of issues we’re facing with the roof and insulation.”

She said the board’s goal over the next few years is to increase revenues to cover all programing and building expenses.

“This is the second year and I’m hoping the revenue will end up being more than $100,000,” Bacon said. “I think people over the last couple of years see that a lot goes on at the center. There’s lots of opportunities for all ages. And I think revenue is going to reflect the increase in use by Belgrade residents and non residents.”

Belgrade resumed running the recreation programs last year after a five-year contract ended with the Alfond Youth Center.

Mechele Cooper — 621-5663

mcooper@centralmaine.com