Published: July 18, 2008 11:59 am         

Parks board raises fees

Increases approved ahead of expected budget cut

With a city budget cut looming, the Logansport Parks Board voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the first reading of two resolutions increasing several fees in the city parks.

Among the changes are raising the cost of swim and golf lessons from $25 to $30 and the price to participate in the softball program from $10 to $15. The discounts for a city resident or a non-profit organization to rent out park facilities were each dropped. Residents will now get a 25 percentrather than the 50 percent discount they had been getting. Non-profits will see their discount drop to 50 percent from the previous 75 percent.

"We're not going to have the funds to maintain these facilities if we don't raise some money," Parks Administrator Jan Fawley said at the meeting. "We need to do something to bring in more revenue."

Changes in the state property tax structure will force the city to cut about $1 million out of its operating budget, Fawley said after the meeting. The parks are bound to be a target, since other expenses like the police and fire department costs can't be reduced, she said.

Still, some parks board members were reluctant to vote for the increases.

"I don't know," board secretary Jim Plew said during the discussion. "In today's economy — and I don't see it getting much better next year — that's a large increase."

Other members expressed concern that the price hike would reduce the number of people using the costlier programs, negating any financial gain.

Eventually, all four members present at the meeting voted in favor of the resolutions.

"It's a painful step," said Chico Rodriguez, the board's president. "But the money has to come from somewhere."

Rodriguez added that city park programs were still a "great deal," compared to the cost of other activities. Last year, the board spent about $70,000 on the parks while earning only about $20,000 in revenue, Fawley said.

Before going into effect, the resolutions must pass a second reading by the parks board and two readings by the Logansport City Council.

The city council is not expected to oppose the measures, Fawley said.

Also at the parks board meeting Wednesday, Fawley introduced a resolution governing the naming of city parks and facilities. The proposal would not rename any current parks, but would establish guidelines for naming them in the future.

While the proposal was eventually tabled, it was a good “starting point,” Rodriguez said.

The measure will go back to the board’s policy committee for further discussion.

Brian Rosenthal can be reached at (574) 732-5148, or via e-mail at Brian.Rosenthal@pharostribune.com

 



Fee changes

(Current price in parenthesis)

Child aged 5-17 open swim: $2.50 ($2)

Adult open swim: $4 ($3)

Twenty visit swim punch card: $40 ($30)

Fifty visit swim punch card: $75 ($65)

Swim lessons: $30 ($25)

Parent & tot swim class: $20 ($15)

Junior lifeguarding class: $35 ($25)

Daddy-daughter valentine class: $15 ($10)

Minor league/T-ball program: $15 ($10)

Youth golf lessons: $30 ($25)

Daily summer activity program: $15 ($10)

Weekly summer activity program: $60 ($40)

Resident rental discount: 25 percent (50 percent)

Non-profit rental discount: 50 percent (75 percent)