The Carson City Board of Supervisors voted to delay a decision on funding the downtown ice rink to give staff the time to work out details for having the funding come from redevelopment funds instead of the general fund.

At today's Board meeting, Supervisor Shelly Aldean made the motion to send the issue back to staff, commenting earlier that, "It gives me heartburn to fund this out of the general fund."

The ice rink has been funded by redevelopment funds for the two years of its existence. Last year, the rink was managed by the Parks and Recreation department, and as such the proposal came about to fund it through the same pool of money that funds that department.

But with the sour economy weighing on the general fund, some supervisors were hesitant to shift the estimated $106,255 subsidy out of redevelopment fund.

"Is the ice rink recreation or redevelopment?" Supervisor Pete Livermore asked. The answer from city staff is that is serves both functions.

Also discussed were the options of buying the ice rink equipment rather than renting, which would increase the up-front cost but greatly decrease the yearly expenses.

Buying new equipment might delay the opening of the rink by a month, according to Parks and Recreation Director Roger Moellendorf. Supervisor Robin Williamson said that would hurt the rink's business, as interest in ice skating wanes after Feb. 1.

Aldean told the board that the City of Reno would not be operating its ice rink this year, and that maybe they might rent their equipment for this season.

There was also discussion about where else they could locate the rink. Pony Express Pavilion was designed to house an ice rink, said Rob Joiner, formerly the city's economic development director and now a candidate for supervisor. Joiner said the pavilion even has a Zamboni barn that isn't being used.

Moellendorf said that both the pavilion and the fairgrounds at Fuji Park and capable of hosting the rink. He said that moving the rink to the pavilion would cause conflicts with current users, specifically the inline hockey league.

Public comment was generally in favor of the rink.

The board also voted to amend the city's budget by $435,060, accounting for extra funds that was not budgeted before. Part of that surplus came from the city's employee buyout program, a cost-cutting measure to reduce city staff.