Most recreation user fees in Newmarket will increase

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 15, 2015
By Chris Simon

You may pay more for your favourite recreation service in Newmarket beginning Jan. 1.

That's when the town is hiking most user fees and charges for municipal recreation and culture services by about 3.5 per cent. Council approved a plan to raise the rates - which covers everything from birthday party packages and camps to special needs fitness classes and most ice pad rentals - during a meeting Monday night.

However, the town granted reprieve to anyone who uses outdoor fields. Fees and charges related to field permits will remain status quo next year, despite initial plans to include them in the hike.

Rates for items such as prime-time adult ice rental, aquatics first-aid training programs, membership passes, museum activities and daily admission fees will also largely remain the same.

"It has been identified that sport field user fees, in particular, are significantly higher than neighbouring municipalities; Newmarket does fall on the higher end in many categories," community services commissioner Ian McDougall said, in a report to council. "All user groups have identified that this has forced Newmarket groups to charge higher fees than groups in surrounding municipalities. As such, these groups have identified that they face declining enrolment as residents register in other municipalities."

Newmarket Soccer Club president Dave Hanson recently said the organization also pays an equal amount for each field used, regardless of size - meaning the same cost is levied for micro-field rental for young children as full-size pitches for teenagers.

However, that pricing structure will be reviewed, McDougall said.

"Staff will work with the NSC to price micro-fields proportionately in 2016 using the full-size field rate as the starting point," he said.

The town is scheduled to undertake a comprehensive rate pricing analysis next year.