It’s going to cost more to lace up the skates at Greater Vernon’s arenas. The Greater Vernon Services Committee has decided to hike arena rates for 2008/09 by 5.5 per cent. "There are increased costs we are seeing in our facilities. Hydro is going up and natural gas is going up,” said Al McNiven, parks and recreation administrator. For all GVSC facilities (ice and non-ice), hydro costs went up 6.56 per cent in April and a further 8.21 per cent is expected next year. Gas went up 17.9 per cent and it’s anticipated it could climb by another 11.2 per cent in 2009. For Civic and Priest Valley arenas, recreational hockey and adult groups will see the hourly rate go from $167.25 to $176.45, while the pre-season training rate for junior hockey will go from $167.25 to $176.45. At Wesbild Centre, public skating rates for adults will go from $4.10 to $4.25 and for youth it will go from $3.10 to $3.25. Regular ice for figure skating and minor hockey will go from $193.54 to $204.18 an hour while rates for recreational hockey, adult groups and private rental will go from $193.54 to $204.18 an hour.
McNiven said that while adult ice fees are on the higher end of the scale compared to other communities, the youth ice fees in Greater Vernon are below average.The user fees for all non-ice facilities will increase 3.5 per cent in 2008/09, primarily because of higher labour costs. Those fees include parks and the swimming pool. “There are big utility costs at the pool but when we compare it to other communities, our fees are at the higher end so we thought we would leave them at 3.5 per cent,” said McNiven. A single adult admission at the pool will go from $4.50 to $4.65. while it will go from $3.40 to $3.50 for youth. In terms of sports fields owned by GVSC, the fee for adult ball league play will go from $15.45 an hour per field to $16, while will go from $6.18 to $6.40 for minor bail league play. McNiven admits that there is always a balancing act when establishing fees because operating costs must be covered, but if fees are set too high, that can scare customers away and that has a negative impact on the bottom line. “You have to find out where the breaking point is,” he said.
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Don Quixote Note: Because of its franchise fee on all Terasen Gas Bills, The City of Vernon will actually increase its revenue by an estimated $78,375 to total $657,375 in 2009. When natural gas rates go up the City cheers silently so as to not annoy taxpayers who have to pay increased rates caused by Terasen increases.
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