The High River Recreation Department has come up with a new way to determine how much users pay for facilities.

The Manager of Parks and Recreation, Craig Stanley says it isn't meant to generate revenue.

"I think we looked at it as best to balance things and keep things as a revenue neutral for the current situation to make sure we don't have an impact on too many people too quickly," Stanley says. "We recognize that there were a number of inconsistencies in how the rates were designed and applied, so we took a policy to council that hopefully in our best judgement will align those relativities to how the rates are applied."

He says policies for facility use were put forward earlier this year and now it's a matter of setting the rates and determining what percentage of that rate, different age groups and segments of the community will pay. The rate has been set at 100 percent for adults.

"We suggested for drop-ins, seniors be charged 85 percent of the adult rate, youth 75 percent, child 50 percent and pre-school and 'super seniors are zero percent," he says.

The ice is in at the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex as Minor Hockey prepares for another season

Some groups, like Minor Hockey are just about to get their programs underway and so the increase won't come until April 1, 2018. Some rates that are changing by over 100 percent for things like adult hockey, will be phased in over three years.

He says this policy sets out how rates are applied once the base rate is set. That'll be done this fall as part of council's budget discussions and setting of the Rates and Fees Bylaw.

Mayor Craig Snodgrass said the recreation fees are a big reason he gets upset when people ask him why the Town can't be run more like a business. He says if recreation facilities had to make money most would have to be closed down.

If you see something we should know about e-mail us at news@highriveronline.com