Boise Parks and Recreation approves FY2026 fee schedule, raises some program fees and scholarship budget

The Boise Parks and Recreation Commission on May 14 approved the department’s fiscal year 2026 fees and fines schedule, voting to adopt multiple new and increased charges intended to help cover programming, maintenance and administrative costs.

Milani, a Parks and Recreation staff member presenting the proposal, said the FY2026 revenue budget is "about $15,500,000" against an expenditure budget of "$50.7 million," including roughly $14.8 million in indirect costs that departments pay for city services such as human resources and information technology. Milani said the department’s total fees number about 565 items; 8 are listed as new fees and 272 are proposed for increases.

The approved schedule includes a 55% surcharge on approved fees for nonresident participants, a proposal Milani described as a standard differential for nonresidents. The commission also adopted a new installment-billing processing fee of up to $25 to offset administrative work associated with installment payments. "This processing fee would be a one-time fee ... that is the max we would be charging, and it would be a one-time fee," Milani said.

The commission approved several itemized changes the presentation highlighted: an outdoor preschool monthly session increase tied to added days and hours at some sites (Boise Urban Garden School will remain at $360 for a three-day option; Foothills Learning Center expanded to a four-day, four-hour option and will charge $600 a month), a $50 swim-meet equipment rental fee for outside rentals (timing systems, clipboards and similar equipment), and an increase in the indoor pickleball drop-in fee at Fort Boise Community Center from $4 to $6.

Milani also outlined the department’s scholarship programs. The scholarship budget was increased from $200,000 to $230,000 for FY2026. The department offers three scholarship types described in the presentation: the Kristen Armstrong youth scholarship (youth 17 and younger, qualifying for up to $600), the adventure scholarship for participants and adults with disabilities (up to $500), and the silver scholarship for people 62 and over (up to $500). Milani said the department works with the Boise School District and Alameda Community Action Partnership to identify and support families and students who may need full scholarship coverage for longer programs and for zoo admissions to Zoo Boise.

Commission members asked how the loss of AmeriCorps volunteers and related federal funding would affect staffing and programming. Council member Jordan Morales noted the department had learned of the AmeriCorps reductions after drafting the fees and charges and asked whether that would be reflected in future budgets; Milani said program changes and some cancellations will be considered and that staff plan to revisit impacts when setting FY2027 fees.

No members of the public spoke at the public hearing; the commission opened and closed the hearing without testimony. The commission approved the FY2026 fees and fines schedule by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: the commission also held organizational and routine votes earlier in the meeting. Commissioners elected Commissioner Linda Mizzou as president and Commissioner Brian Walker as vice president; the commission approved the April 17 minutes; and it voted to adjourn at the meeting’s end. The fees-and-fines vote passed as part of the same meeting record.

Staff said they will monitor the summer programming period and return with adjustments as needed when drafting the next year’s charges if staffing or funding changes require it.