The Camp Verde Town Council is in the process of finalizing its budget for the upcoming year. And one agenda item that loomed during the May 16 meeting was the proposed increase of the Heritage Pool fee from $2.50 to $3.
The Heritage Pool will open for the season on Saturday, May 26, and the fee for adults will rise to $3 for a single visit, and the fee for children will raise from $1.50 to $2.
Season passes will also be $80 for adults instead of $70, and will raise from $50 to $60 for children. Ten visits will cost $25 for adults and $16 for children.
During the meeting, the proposed increases led to controversy and debate.
“The pool is for families,” Councilwoman Dee Jenkins said.
Jenkins expressed concern over how the price increase would affect the community.
“I would rather not increase the pool fees so that families have something to do this summer, and not pay more money to go do something as a family in Camp Verde,” she said.
According to Town Manager Russ Martin, the fee increase is intended to deal with the $75,000 annual cost of running the pool, which is only partially covered by fees.
Martin estimated that the pool brings in about $20,000 in revenue annually, including not just fees but candy sales and party permits. Increases in the state minimum wage have also led to higher costs for operating the pool, as does the need to replace the chlorinator this year, which could cost as much as $25,000.
“The council isn’t intending to make it an offset,” Martin said. “They recognize that the costs are going up, and a minor fee increase is not too difficult.”
Marie Moore, an employee of the clerk’s office, served as recording secretary during the meeting. She advocated for raising the fee and said it would be worth it.
Since Heritage Pool would still remain significantly cheaper than the pool at the Cottonwood Recreation Center, which many Camp Verde residents travel to, Moore said the Heritage Pool could benefit from some improvements in order to compete with Cottonwood. She said that raising the fees for the Heritage Pool could help pay for improvements.
“It costs a lot to operate the pool, and it costs to make sure you have qualified lifeguards there to make sure your kids aren’t drowning in the pool,” Moore said. “As a parent with children that I shove off to get sunburned in the summer, I’m all about raising the prices.”
Council voted in favor of the increase, with Councilwoman Jackie Baker the only dissenting vote.
Martin said the increased pool fees — which still do not rise to the level of making pool operations break even — allow the pool to continue to improve and stay competitive with others in the area.
Jon Hecht can be reached at 282-7795 or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
