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User fees for City facilities to climb again in 2018

Nov 10, 2017 | 4:55 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Those wanting to book ice time, rent out theatres, or take field trips in Medicine Hat will have to dig into their pocketbooks a little more in 2018.

For the second straight year, user fees for a number of City-owned facilities have been raised, totalling around $540,000 in additional revenue for the City next year.

According to the City, this is being done to reduce the City’s reliance on property tax revenue and bring down subsidies on facilities.

Agreed upon at Friday’s Public Services Committee meeting, chairperson Julie Friesen said user groups in Medicine Hat were made aware ahead of this decision.

“The first round of adjustments were made last year, and this is just the next round of adjustments,” said Friesen. “The user groups are aware these were coming, it was targeted for a few years.”

Private rentals will see the biggest hikes, with ice rentals jumping from $200 to $240 per hour, picnic shelters climbing $11 per half day to $68, and theatre rentals set at $2,280 per day from $2,230 per day.

As for community groups and non-profits, they’ll see less of an impact with pool rentals, fieldhouse rentals, and gym rentals at the Family Leisure Centre seeing no change.

However, user fees for theatre rentals at the Esplanade, floor rentals, and youth ice bookings for the 2018-19 season have all been increased.

Meals at the Strathcona Centre have also been increased from $8.50 per meal to $10 per meal, while there will be no increase for Meals on Wheels.

Friesen said she doesn’t enjoy increasing these fees, but adds it’s an important part of the City’s Financial Fit model.

“No one wants to have fee increases,” said Friesen. “But, it’s just part of life and we may not be able to continue to offer some of those things if we’re not able to help pay for them.”

Target subsidy levels were introduced by the City in December of 2016, with year over year fee increases limited to a maximum of 20% jumps.

Councillor Kris Samraj said it’s difficult to walk the fine line of providing these facilities, while ensuring there’s enough capital returning to the City.

“I think there’s always a balance there,” said Samraj. “You want to do as much cost recovery as you can without making it burdensome for people to actually enjoy these public facilities there. I think it’s something they review periodically to see how they’re working. Right now, it seems like traffic is still going up for a lot of these facilities, so that’s always a good sign.”

Council will vote on the proposed user fee increases at their next meeting on November 20, and if passed, the new user fees will be implemented throughout 2018.