posted January 27, 2008

INCREASED RECREATION USER FEES: "EVERYBODY GETS TO PLAY"

Higher user fees proposed in a new report from Parks, Forestry and recreation staff, called "Everybody gets to play." Although a joke is already making the rounds, calling this approach “everybody gets to pay,” the report is not all about cost increases, but also about a proposal that all Toronto school kids are to get free swim lessons (grade three) and skate lessons (grade five). The main idea, though, seems to be the concept of “cost recovery,” with the aim of getting 50% of recreation program costs covered by user fees. This is a separate income stream from the Parks, Forestry and Recreation tax allocation (now just over $300 million from the city budget).

Parks, Forestry and Recreation general manager Brenda Librecz has hosted four public “feedback sessions” about a new approach to program user fees, called “Everybody gets to play.” This name is trademarked by the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association, one of whose directors is the previous Parks and Recreation general manager, Claire Tucker Reid.

Although a joke is already making the rounds, calling this approach “everybody gets to pay,” the report is not all about cost increases. Parks and Recreation management want to use extra fees to enlarge the subsidy for people who can prove they have low incomes (the “Welcome Policy”), from about 15,000 people receiving it now. Free “priority” community centres are to lose that designation, but at the same time all Toronto school kids are to get free swim lessons (grade three) and skate lessons (grade five).

The main idea seems to be the concept of “cost recovery,” with the aim of getting 50% of the program costs covered by user fees. This is a separate income stream from the Parks, Forestry and Recreation tax allocation (now just over $300 million from the city budget).

In the 10 years since amalgamation, the staffing for this division has increased by 743 people (about 100 management and the rest includes a lot of bits and pieces of part-time hours for many people). The budget – adjusted for inflation – has increased by $60 million in “real” dollars over those same years. Part of that increase comes from wage agreements. With a work force that big, management also has a big budgeting problem – wage costs increase by around $10 million every year, even if no additional staff are hired. (The increase is not only from union agreements, but also from the scale of merit increases for management.)

So Parks and Recreation management have a big problem, and to they’re addressing it with a hurried request for public input. Four public meetings have been held, two on January 16 and two on January 17. Now comes one special evening meeting of the Community Services and Recreation Committee, at City Hall, Wednesday January 30 7 to 9 pm. The councillors want to hear from the people. In order to make a deputation, call Candy Davidovits at 416 392-8032, and she’ll put you on the list. (You only get to talk for 5 minutes, but you can make a few points during that time).

You could comment on these questions: How should public space be used in Toronto from now on? Should the skating rinks (for example) cost money? Or should there be a strong distinction between registered “learn-to” programs on the one hand, and tax-supported public amenities on the other – like rinks and pools, gyms, playgrounds and picnic areas, for all the citizens to enjoy without paying extra? Brenda Librecz is inviting everyone into the conversation.

For the PFR proposal, see backgroundfile-9717.pdf. For an analysis of PFR operating budget trends, see the CELOS report. For trends in Toronto family incomes, compared with surrounding areas, see Losing Ground Key Findings by the United Way. Uploads:News2008/KeyFindings_UnitedWayofGreaterToronto.pdf