By Caitlin Brezinski

Proposed fee increase get mixed reactions

Oct 8, 2014 | 6:52 AM

The City of Prince Albert is proposing a 5.1 per cent increase in user fees and rental rates at recreation facilities early next year.  

The increases in the facilities would create an estimated $55,250 which would come from a one-time 2.4 per cent service charge for an upgraded online booking system and a 2.7 per cent adjustment for the Saskatchewan Consumer Price Index.

A handful of Prince Albert residents are satisfied with the services the facilities have and say the fee increase would not affect whether or not they would still use the services.  

Adriann Locke said she hasn’t’ heard anything about the fee increase but would still use the facilities at the Alfred Jenkins Field House.

“I find it really cheap and definitely affordable in what you get for what you’re paying.  It’s totally worth it, 5.1 per cent wouldn’t be a big deal,” she said.

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Shane LeCorre said the increase would be minimal considering everything else that keeps going up.

“With gas prices, power … inflation, everything has to go up so we do have to pay more,” he said.

Corliss Ratti said she would not be bothered by a fee increase.

“Actually to me it kind of makes sense, because if other things go up, the cost of running things, operating things go up so that needs to happen as well,” she said.

Some other Prince Albert residents are concerned about the cost and would be affected by the increase.

Eric Bohmann said he uses facilities at the Field House but is already concerned about the price. 

“I was actually just looking at Fitness for 10 and they’re about half the price of this place so I was thinking of moving there,” he said.

Gerald Lisoway, principal of the Canadian Revival School in Prince Albert, said the students come to the Alfred Jenkins Field House because they don’t have a gym of their own. 

“I know that if there’s a 5.1 percent increase, we’d certainly have to revisit whether we can handle the cost or not because we’re on a very tight budget,” he said.

Other Prince Albert residents are hoping the proposed fee increase will improve facilities in the city.  A couple of residents refused to go on record saying they want to see the Frank J. Dunn pool go through an upgrade.

If approved by city council, fees and rates will increase at the Alfred Jenkins Field House, Margo Fournier Centre, the E.A Rawlinson Centre, and aquatics facilities on Jan. 1, 2015.  On April 1, 2015, outdoor sports fields and other arenas will see an increase in user fees.  

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