Parks and rec program fees set to hike

Whitefish Parks and Recreation program fees will increase for its after school, day camp and youth sports programs.

The rate increase comes as a way to cover increased costs associated with operating the programs.

City Council last week approved the rate changes that begin this summer based upon a recommendation from Parks and Recreation Director Maria Butts as a way to make sure revenue from the programs offset the expenses associated with those programs.

Councilor Frank Sweeney praised Butts and the recreation staff for reviewing fees to keep increases as low as possible.

“We are raising rates,” Sweeney said. “But Maria worked really hard on this problem to look at our costs and thought a lot about the people that use these services on a daily basis. This increase was done in the most economically [thoughtful] way for those who use this.”

The rate change varies based upon the program.

The summer camp will move from a daily fee to a lump sum membership cost that provides for unlimited attendance during the summer season. Currently, if a child attends every day of summer camp the cost is $2,430. However, the membership cost for an entire season beginning this summer will be $2,250.

While there is a reduction in the cost, the program is also changing as well. Previously as part of the summer camp fee, children were able to attend field trips for the same cost, but beginning this summer field trips are available at an additional cost to the day camp.

“The membership option changes the level of service and lessens the structure of the program, providing more of a recreation center environment,” Butts said. “Although programming, such as field trips, would be offered, these programs would not be included in the summer day camp program and would instead be a separate rate for participation.”

The cost of summer field trips and most recreation programs are seeing a fee increase from $50 to $65.

Butts said the change in the fees and associated structure for the fees allows for a menu of options, but also provides the most amount of savings to residents who rely on the programs as a daily childcare service and assigning greater costs to those who use the programs for recreational opportunities.

The before school program fee will increase from $7 to $10 per day beginning this fall, and the after school fee would increase from $14 to $15 per day.

The Parks and Recreation Department recently reviewed its programs and found that several fees did not cover the costs of associated with the services provided and subsequently formulated a revised fee schedule for programs.

“These increases will bring revenues from each program closer in line to associated expenditures,” Butts said.

In addition to adjusting the fees for the programs, the city also is implementing a nonresident fee that would be paid for children who don’t reside in the boundaries of or attend the Whitefish School District. The summer day camp membership fee for nonresidents is $3,000. The daily rates for after school program is $25 and the before school daily fee is $35 and the fee for most recreation programs is $75 for nonresidents.

“Residents who used these programs somewhat regularly would see a slight increase from previous years, and nonresidents who are utilizing these programs strictly for recreational purposes would see the greatest increase,” Butts said.

Whitefish’s camp and recreation programs in total served about 600 children. According the city, 79 percent of the children in the programs live in Whitefish, 16 percent from the Flathead Valley and 5 percent reside elsewhere.

Fees associated with the recreation programs were last increased in 2017.