Brandon Twp.- Non-residents wanting to participate in township recreation programs will have to pay an additional fee? $60 for individuals participating in a single program, or annual $125 fee for a family.
The township board unanimously approved the fees at their Feb. 4 meeting.
‘We haven’t heard from Groveland residents, but we don’t represent them,? said Township Supervisor Ron Lapp. ‘We represent Brandon taxpayers and need to look out for their interests.?
The decision came after officials from Brandon and Groveland discussed the recreation funding issue last December. Brandon officials said a total of 1,980 individuals participated in the recreation department activities last year, of which 388 individuals were from Groveland. Currently, Groveland pays $15,000 per year to Brandon Recreation to cover those participants. Brandon Township officials say an additional $27,000 is required to equal the $42,144 needed to sufficiently fund the recreation program.
The fees for non-residents will be in addition to standard program fees. The $125 fee will cover all members of a family, no matter the size and number of programs in which members participate. Fees take effect with spring and summer programs, for which registration begins this month.
‘Currently, 20 percent of our participants are not Brandon residents,? said Lapp. ‘We use taxpayer dollars to support the recreation department and Groveland residents reap the benefits for free. We are simply asking, if you use our facilities and programs, compensate us.?
Lapp said the $15,000 Groveland has contributed the last few years should have been $42,000, and if Groveland officials were willing to contribute that much now, there wouldn’t be user fees for their residents.
Groveland Township Supervisor Bob DePalma said about 1,800 surveys were mailed to residents in December asking whether they supported a recreation millage or a user fee for the residents who use Brandon Recreation services. Of about 400 surveys returned, 77 respondents indicated they would support a recreation millage of approximately .2 mills or $27 per year for an average home of $270,000 market value to cover current costs. In comparison, 323 residents specified a user fee should be implemented.
‘It’s the Brandon Recreation Department and they are entitled to charge whatever they feel are the right fees for using their program,? said DePalma. ‘Our residents use a number of different community programs. Typically, these other rec departments charge an additional $10-$12 for non-residents.?
DePalma said the Groveland board would decide at their Feb. 11 meeting whether to continue contributing the $15,000 now that Brandon officials are implementing the user fees.
‘I can’t guarantee anything for or against,? he said. ‘I will wait until I hear comments from the rest of the board members.?