About this time each year, West Shore Parks and Recreation proposes its pricing structure for the following year to municipalities served by the organization.
Those prices are then reviewed by the municipalities to okay before they can be implemented, and that phase is coming up.
For the period of Sept. 1, 2015 to Aug. 31, 2016, the board is proposing modest increases to most admissions for the facilities at Juan de Fuca Rec Centre and for room bookings within them, though there are some modest decreases, as well.
General admission fees (swimming, skating, weight room and fitness classes) are proposed to rise 15 cents to $6.40 including tax for adults and increase 10 cents for seniors and students to $4.60. A family admission is proposed to rise 30 cents to $12.80.
The previous 20-pack of individual admissions will now be a 25-pack with a proposed adult price hike from $95.20 for the old pack to $122.00 for the 25-pack.
“A lot of municipalities have been going to a larger pack, so we just wanted to keep in step with everyone else, really,” said Sandy Clarke, manager of recreation at West Shore Parks and Recreation.
Clarke says they review their fee structure every year, and implement these small “one-to-three per cent increases that reflect the increased cost of operating,” such as Hydro increases and rising maintenance expenses.
There are also some decreases to report, however, including prices for court use (sand volleyball, tennis, basketball).
Admission prices for all ages would see a reduction of 15 to 30 cents, while use of the field lights at the facility is proposed to go down as well.
The children’s rate for the facilities is also staying the same, thanks to the Healthy Kids R Us program, which Clarke says subsidizes increases to expenses somewhat so they can continue to incentivize the promotion healthy living early in life.
The fee proposal now goes before the various municipalities served by Parks and Rec for approval before being implemented this coming September.
mdavies@goldstreamgazette.com