Fees for City of Moose Jaw recreational facilities are being adjusted, with some increases coming for 2023. 

The projected revenue increase is expected to be $102,464 and will go towards cost recovery for those facilities as the city expects a $125,993 expense increase. 

“We're projecting a one per cent overall increase in our cost recovery levels, so going from a 45 per cent to a 46 per cent cost recovery from 2022 to 2023,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Services Derek Blais. 

The rate changes include a three per cent increase for arena and pool rental rates and a five per cent increase in rates for outdoor spaces, sports grounds and athletic fields to offset rising operating costs. 

There will also be additional adult league fees for outdoor spaces and non-exclusive bathroom/shack use. 

Meanwhile, early morning ice time rentals at the city’s rinks will no longer be receiving a discounted rate. 

“So, previously we received a discounted ice and reviewing that rate further in what other municipalities are doing, it is a very popular time and we feel it can be considered as prime time just strictly due to the demand,” Blais said. 

There will be a five per cent increase to adult turf rental, admission and membership rates as the Parks and Recreation Department works towards a goal of having youth rates set at 65 per cent of adult rates. 

Also passed by Moose Jaw City Council on Tuesday, as a recommendation from the Parks, Recreation and Facilities Advisory Committee, is a new Parks and Recreation Rates and Fees Policy. 

“In part of this year's review, what we've done is we've actually looked to create an official policy recreation recent fees policy has which we're going to provide us with a framework on how rates and fees for our facilities and for our programs and services are determined in the future,” Blais said. 

The goal of the policy is to achieve a 50 per cent cost recovery ratio for all programs and services through the city’s indoor and outdoor facilities while having youth and senior rates at 65 per cent of the adult rates. 

The policy outlines achieving this goal over several years through gradual increases rather than a large one-time fee increase. 

Finally, Blais outlined for city council the programs that will now charge PST. These programs include: 

  • Public skating drop-in for all ages 
  • Public skating memberships for adults, seniors and families 
  • Shinny for adults and seniors 
  • All equipment rentals 
  • Ultimate Frisbee 
  • Tickets for special events

City services that are exempt from PST include:  

  • Facility rentals 
  • Aquatic, Yara and Recreation pass memberships 
  • Punch cards 
  • Fitness classes 
  • Yara and Aquatic drop-in (defined as a leisure pass by the government’s PST changes) 
  • Summer day camps 
  • Swimming lessons and advanced courses 
  • Community programs 
  • Under-18 public skating or shinny memberships