ROY — The city plans to increase rates at both city’s aquatics center and at the recreation complex.
Both facilities need upgrades and city officials believe the best way to meet those needs is to raise rates.
The Roy complex has been open for 25 years and has never had a rate increase. However, after Labor Day, rates will be raised by $1 per person, making the fee $4 for ages 8 to 64; $3 for ages 5 to 7 and $3 for those 65 and older.
“It’s still a premier facility,” Mayor Joe Ritchie said.
He said the rates are some of the best in the area for a per entry fee. Some other local gyms charge $10 for a per entry fee, he said.
Recreation Director Travis Flint said the money earned from the fee increase will go toward needed upgrades to the facility, such as updated treadmills, elliptical machines and bikes.
The changes will take effect the day after Labor Day.
The facility will shut down for two weeks prior to that date. Flint believes that will be a good time to start upgrades and then raise the rates.
Flint also said the $4 is a great deal.
“You can’t go to a movie for $4, and with us you can get as much as 17 hours of entertainment for $4,” he said.
The aquatics center rates will also go up, by 50 cents, making the general entry fee $5.50. For ages 4-7 and 65 and older the new price will be $4.50.
This is the first rate hike the aquatic center has had since opening 10 years ago.
Flint said that facility needs new chairs, umbrellas, fresh paint and some new equipment.
Flint sees the aquatic center as still being a state-of-the art facility and he wants to keep it that way.
Season passes for both facilities will stay the same price and there will be no rate variation for residents or non-residents.
Flint is still looking into the idea of raising rates to rent the aquatic center, but not this year. He currently has all but three days booked and doesn’t want to upset that process.
“It’s something we need to look at, but not now,” Flint said.
Some council members asked about the idea of charging non-residents more to use the facilities.
“Roy residents sacrificed a lot ... and it was a huge investment,” City Councilman John Cordova said.
When pool employees ask where attendees live, more than 60 percent say they are from Roy, Cordova said.
Flint said the aquatic center’s budget breaks even each year, but there is always a question regarding weather variations.
“I feel comfortable to tell you that things are well at the aquatic center and it’s not burdensome to taxpayers. But we are still in the same chairs we were in 10 years ago,” he said.
He feels confident that the planned increase in fees will remedy that problem and they will continue to look at the rentals and possibly make those changes next year.
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