ERIN – Fees for many parks and recreation facilities in Erin are going up by two per cent, while others will remain unchanged.
Town council approved the new fee schedule for 2019-2020 at its meeting Sept. 3, as part of a report from parks and recreation officer Jamie Adams.
The town received $663,700 in user fees in 2018, “ensuring those who directly benefit from a service are the ones to financially contribute towards it,” said Adams.
“The town continues to be proactive in its approach to cost recovery through user fees to help mitigate property tax increases and annually performs a review of all rates and fees to adjust for inflationary pressures and market conditions,” she said.
Lower non-profit rates are being introduced for social space and arena floors, providing a more affordable option for service clubs and community groups.
Public access rates for drop-in skating at the arenas will remain unchanged, to promote participation in this service.
Rates for ball diamonds the arena floor and most uses of the Centre 2000 theatre are remaining unchanged, but are increasing for ice rental, the nursery school, camps, use of the Shamrock room and soccer fields.
Higher costs
Adams said the higher fees for indoor facilities are not being driven by the high demand from groups such as hockey teams, but mainly by higher costs to the town for electricity and natural gas.
The permit fees to use McMillan Park or town parkettes for an event are going up by five per cent.
Adams said Erin is providing “affordable and competitive rates as compared to neighbouring municipalities.”
