College Station City Council Discusses Fee Changes For Parks & Recreation

The City of College Station in Texas is considering potential fee adjustments for its municipal Parks & Recreation programs. Council members discussed the topic for more than an hour during their July 25th meeting.

Reviewing the Current Fee Structure

For the second time in three months, the topic of increasing fees for public parks and recreation programs was examined. The conversation centered around appropriate user charges for non-residents. Currently, non-residents pay a 20 percent surcharge on most programs and services, a figure Mayor John Nichols suggested may rise by an additional 5 percent from the next fiscal year.

Equitable Rates for Residents and Non-Residents

The council also deliberated over the possibility of Bryan residents paying a surcharge comparable to that charged to College Station residents by Bryan. Non-residents from cities other than Bryan could also be expected to pay an increased fee.

Proposals for Additional Funding Sources

As part of its discussions, the council is also looking into staff suggestions for supplementary income generation. These proposals include soliciting sponsorship capital from private businesses, having sports participants pay for umpires and referees, and increasing marketing and promotional efforts to attract more program participants.

Deciding on a Final Fee Schedule

The final decision on proposed fee amendment will come in the council’s August 22nd meeting. Until then, all proposals and discussions are subject to change.

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