Potential changes to fee rates for the next year were at the crux of the Clinton City Council’s budget workshop, held Tuesday night, resulting in a decision from the council that denied increases for various recreation elements.
The proposed fee schedule proposed would have increased pool admission fees at Royal Lane Park from $1 for children age 12 and under, and $2 for everyone else, to $2 for children age 12 and under and $4 for everyone else. Additionally, youth athletic fees, which are paid when signing children up for sports, were also proposed to increase. For residents, the fee was suggested to increase from $15 for the first child, per sport, to $20 for the first child per sport, and for another child from $7 more per sport to $10 per sport for another child. The council also denied this change.
The decision was unanimous, with many council members acknowledging the rising costs of necessities for residents, such as gas and groceries. Not wanting to place additional financial strain on families, children, and other citizens, the council declined to change the current fees.
“My personal opinion is that the resident youth athletic fees and the pool admission fees, I would hate to increase that, especially in this environment,” said Mayor Lew Starling. “It might not be a lot to us in terms of revenue for the city, but it is a lot to somebody that’s got one, two or three kids. Gas right now is $5 a pop.”
In addition, the rental fee for the pool is also proposed to increase from $100 to $150. However, the council’s greatest concerns revolved around the admission and youth athletic fees.
“I’m not so much worried about the rental fees as I am the admission and youth athletic fees,” said Starling. “Our goal is to use the park, and it is being used. If you don’t believe me, go out there right now and you’ll see that it’s full. Just last week, we took $20,000 out of contingency to put down rock in the driveway. Right now, the park is full and I don’t want to do anything to discourage that. That’s my thought process.”
On a similar note, the city’s proposed 2026-27 budget also calls for closing the pool once a week to reduce strain on lifeguards and pool staff. According to Recreation and Parks Director Garrett Bryant, the pool is currently staffed with four lifeguards. Ahead of the pool’s May 26 opening, three people are taking tests to become lifeguards, bringing the potential total for the season to seven.
According to the city’s finance director, Rhonda Sommer, the suggestion comes from the Recreation and Parks department, itself.
“One of the things that has come out of the Recreation Department is a recommendation that we consider not opening the pool one day a week to give staff some breathing room,” said Sommer. “It is very tough to staff seven days a week.”
While this suggestion was not fully supported by council members, the reasoning behind it was understood.
“I’m torn on shutting it down once a week,” said Councilman Neil Strickland. “I can be flexible on that to go either way. I understand our lifeguards need a break. I think Tuesday is our lowest-visited day. I don’t want to burn out our lifeguards any more than they already are. I think most people would understand it being closed for a day.”
Because of this, the council decided to consider the suggestion a little longer before making a final decision.
“I don’t think this decision has to be made tonight,” said Starling. “I think the council is pretty certain on the fees. I think we need to look at it a bit more. If a child’s momma or daddy is only off on Tuesday, and that would be their time to go, they’d be affected.”
The budget discussed at Tuesday night’s meeting is only proposed and no final decisions have been made. The council will discuss the budget once more before it passes in June. Currently, no date has been announced for another budget workshop. However, the council’s next meeting will be on June 2 at 7 p.m. and a public hearing is likely to be held on the budget at that time.