Orange residents may soon face increased costs for recreational activities as city leaders consider raising fees for renting fields and swimming lessons. The discussion follows a warning from an outside consultant about potential bankruptcy risks by the end of the decade, a claim City Manager Jared Hildenbrand disputed last week. Hildenbrand emphasized that while the city is not on the brink of bankruptcy, maintaining the status quo is unsustainable.
According to Voice of OC, the city is losing nearly $3 million annually due to outdated fees. For example, the city charges only $2 per hour for field use, while the maintenance cost is around $38 per hour. The city has not increased these fees in 15 years. During a recent council meeting, many residents voiced concerns about the impact of fee hikes on access to recreational facilities, especially for low-income families.
The financial challenges facing Orange are not limited to recreational fees. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, consultants have projected a $46.5 million budget deficit by 2031. They suggested measures such as a 1% sales tax increase and attracting new business developments to address the shortfall. However, a recent ballot measure to raise the sales tax was narrowly defeated.
City officials are also considering increasing the bed tax, currently one of the lowest in the county, and reviewing building and planning permit fees. Mayor Pro Tem Denis Bilodeau expressed interest in working with the new city manager to find a sustainable path forward, including potential partnerships with businesses like Costco to boost local revenue.
The city council is expected to decide on the fee adjustments at their meeting on October 28. Meanwhile, council members are advocating for a phased approach to fee increases, aiming to balance financial needs with community access to services.
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