Vernon recreation fees going up

VERNON – Residents will notice new prices when they pay for recreation services, but a Vernon councillor insists the fee increase is a reasonable one.

The cost for rentals, programs and recreation services is going up 2.6 per cent this year. Coun. Catherine Lord says the increase is needed to cover rising operational costs.

“It’s not a huge increase,” Lord says. “I think if you look at the way economic times are going, it’s not an onerous increase.”

She says the city is mindful of keeping recreation services affordable and accessible to the public, and points out an increase of 5.6 per cent in 2014 was avoided because it would negatively affect participation and user levels. Instead, council opted to spread out the increase over time resulting in a 2.6 per cent last year and the same increase this year.

“Some things are going up from $48 to $50,” Lord says. “I don’t think people will notice it that much.”

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.