Families whose children participate in after-school programs, people wishing to memorialize loved ones with park benches or trees, and promoters putting on special events all may see increases in fees charged by the Ketchum Parks and Recreation Department.
Jen Smith, parks and recreation director, asked the City Council Monday to approve fee increases for various services.
Even with the increases, Ketchum's fees still will be in line with or less than other recreation providers in the valley, Smith said.
"Affordability is still mission number one," she said.
The City Council approved the increases with an amendment directing the department to figure out a phased approach to lessen the impact on users.
Fees have not been raised since they were implemented in 2004, Smith said.
Proposed increases ranged from 31 percent for selected after-school activities to a 500 percent increase in the cost of tree removal applications and tree permits. They would go from $10 to $50.
The increases are needed to offset higher costs of providing services to an increasing number of participants, she said.
On average, the department charges less than half of what other similar agencies charge for youth and adult recreation programs and services, park reservations and special events, memorial installations and tree services, according to information Smith provided to the mayor and council.
The proportion of costs picked up by the city is "extremely high," City Administrator Gary Marks said.
Council President Larry Helzel and Councilman Baird Gourlay agreed that the public/private split is out of balance. But Helzel advocated for a gradual increase.
"I think some of these might present a hardship to the user," he said.
One possible result of higher fees is fewer people using the department's services, or more people asking for fee waivers, thereby lowering revenue.
"I want to make sure we're not even thinking of heading in that direction because that's counterproductive," he said.
Mayor Randy Hall suggested a phased approach.
"It just feels wrong to do it all at once," he said.
The department will continue to provide scholarships and fee waivers to those who need it. Currently, approximately 10 percent of participants receive some kind of waiver or assistance, said John Kearney, recreation supervisor. Some of that is offset by donations.
"We don't turn any child away," he said.
Even with the higher fees, he said the department would still be accessible to a wide range of users.
"To tell the truth," he said, "I still think we're going to be the best deal in town."
Rebecca Meany: rmeany@mtexpress.com
