The City of Beavercreek announced the Beavercreek Senior Center will reduce its hours of operation beginning Friday, Aug. 29, as part of ongoing budget cuts within the city’s Parks, Recreation & Culture Division.
The center, currently open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, will adjust its hours to close at 4 p.m. on weekdays and will no longer be open on weekends. This decision comes as the city’s parks division faces financial challenges.
“This was a very difficult decision, but one we had to make given the fiscal realities the parks division is facing,” said Zach Wike, director of Beavercreek Parks, Recreation & Culture. “We understand the importance of the senior center to our community, and we are committed to exploring all options to support our residents.”
The changes come in the sixth year of the city’s parks levy fund, which was originally projected for a five-year cycle. In 2025, the division eliminated nearly all of its $240,000 in capital projects. The only projects moving forward were $27,500 in improvements funded through grants and partnerships, including a paved parking lot at Wartinger Park and ADA upgrades to the senior center’s reception area. Other planned purchases, such as new playground equipment and maintenance equipment including mowers, vehicles and trailers, were postponed.
Beavercreek is one of three cities in Ohio without an income tax. As a result, more than 70% of the city’s revenue comes from property taxes and grants, which are earmarked for specific purposes, meaning the city cannot utilize funds from other departments or divisions. For example, money from the city’s street levy can only be used for street projects and maintenance, not for parks. The city’s general fund, which accounts for about 9.5% of the 2025 budget, has subsidized the parks division with $240,000 annually since 2015, primarily for capital improvement projects.
The reductions also follow voters’ rejection of a 1.93‑mill park levy in 2023 and 0.49‑mill parks levy in 2024. The park system is currently funded by a continuous 1.2‑mill levy, first approved in 2014 and increased in 2019, which generates about $1.8 million annually. These funds cover park maintenance, staffing, programming, events, and operations at the Beavercreek Senior Center. However, because it is a fixed levy, revenue increases by approximately 1 to 2% per year on average, which is less than the rising costs driven by record inflation that continues to impact the center’s expenses.
Additional reductions are expected in 2026, when the division must cut another $150,000. That would bring the total reduction to nearly $400,000 compared with the division’s 2024 budget, the final year of the levy’s initial five-year framework.
Currently, the Beavercreek Senior Center has more than 2,600 members. The center has experienced a 60% increase in membership and annual visits over the past five years with no staffing changes. The center is staffed by three full-time and one part-time employee and relies heavily on the support of volunteers. In 2024 alone, more than 360 volunteers contributed over 35,000 hours of service, the equivalent of 17 full-time employees, saving the city an estimated $1.2 million.
Membership to the center costs $40 annually for city and township residents and $60 for nonresidents. At this time, the parks division has no plans to increase membership fees.
“Keeping the cost of membership affordable is a priority because the center plays an important role in keeping seniors active, engaged and connected,” Wike said. “Raising fees could create a barrier for many older adults, and the city remains committed to ensuring the center remains accessible to as many seniors as possible, even amid budget challenges.”
The city continues to explore additional funding sources to help offset the impact of the cuts and ensure community facilities remain accessible. The city also remains transparent in its budget process by holding annual public work sessions on city finances, where residents may provide comments, and by publishing financial documents, including the budget, on the city’s website here.
“While it is unfortunate that the center must reduce its hours, we remain committed to serving Beavercreek’s senior population,” Wike said. “Our staff will continue to provide meaningful programs and activities each day, and we are determined to ensure every member continues to feel valued, supported, and connected when they come to the center.”
The city is also hosting a town hall focused on city finances on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Beavercreek Golf Club, located at 2800 New Germany-Trebein Road. During the town hall, city staff will provide an overview of how the city is funded, discuss municipal funding options, and explain the city’s budgeting process. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about how financial decisions are made to support city services. All residents are encouraged to attend.