New fees are in place for user groups at the Scott Safety Centre and the sports fields in Whitecourt

 

Every two years the Community Services Board reviews the rates charged at both the local sports fields and the Scott Safety Centre. The thorough review looks at surrounding communities that offer similar services and compares the costs in Whitecourt to see where the town sits in terms of fees. During the September 10 regular council meeting, Director of Community Services Laura Howarth provided council with the results from the board’s recent review.

“They look at the communities that surround us that are comparable and make sure we are charging a reasonable rate which still allows young families to play sports in the fields and in the arena but still allows us an opportunity to recover some of the costs that are incurred. Like any other community, sports fields and recreation facilities run at a deficit and are supported by our tax base but you still try to recover some of those costs,” explained Mayor Chichak.

Howarth said several factors go into how the board decides how much to increase rates. “The market, what our user groups can endure, and what our neighbouring communities are doing are some of the factors that go into the formula for increases.” The proposed increase of four per cent remains below the cost of inflation but would provide the town with funds to cover increased costs.

Councillor Hilts asked how the increases will affect the budgeting process for the sports fields and Scott Safety Centre. Howarth said she was uncertain of a percentage at this time but that there would be a difference. “I know what it will generate in revenue over the next year. That four per cent will be just under $10,000 in the arenas and just under $900 in the sport fields.” Chief Administrative Officer Peter Smyl said all the information pertaining to the revenue generated will be provided to council during this year’s budgeting process.

Councillor Schlosser wondered why other communities charge differently for sports fields. “I noticed that some of the fields for soccer charge per hour for fields and I’m wondering why we charge per team?” Smyl said the formula varies in each community with some charging per field, per team, or per hour. For example, Hinton, Rocky Mountain House, and Slave Lake charge per field for soccer whereas Leduc charges per person, and Whitecourt charges per team.

Councillor Schlosser said he felt the increase wasn’t huge given that it’s under the cost of living. “As a user group I do appreciate the fact that it’s nice to be able to do up your budget based on knowing the rates for the next two years, so you know what to charge your users. I like the two-year increase. The cost of everything goes up including wages and fuel so we need to increase things, too. I think four per cent is pretty fair.”

The cost breaks down to an increase of $15 per adult team and $8 for minor teams in both soccer and ball. The previous cost was $382 for adults and $192 for minors. The new cost for adults now is $397 and $200 for minor teams. For the arena, the increase is between $3 and $6 depending on age level and time. The average between Edson, Hinton, Drayton Valley, Rocky Mountain House, Slave Lake, Leduc, and Whitecourt is $170.20 for adult prime ice time and the new cost for Whitecourt will be $154. The average for non-prime ice time between the seven communities is $136.60 and Whitecourt’s new cost remains below it, coming in at $128. For minor ice time, the average cost is $92.75. The cost for Whitecourt users will be $90.50.

Deputy Mayor Matt Connell said it was nice to see that Whitecourt remained below the average when compared to comparable communities for the same service. “Whether it’s a four per cent increase one year, or a two per cent increase every year, we’re below the averages according to all the comparable communities so I think we’re looking more than fair.” He then made the motion to accept the fee increase recommendation which was then carried by council. The new increased fees are now in effect as of September 10.