Council weighs modest pool fee increase and asks staff for subsidy analysis

Junction City staff presented a second‑round review of proposed pool‑rate adjustments and a benchmarking survey comparing local pools and district rates. The council used the work session to explore tradeoffs between user fees and general‑fund subsidies.

Staff noted rising operational costs — wages, chemicals, heating and power — and aging pool infrastructure, and said a facilities study is underway to outline future capital needs. The benchmarking spreadsheet showed the city’s current family season pass and single‑visit prices are lower than many regional pools; in the meeting one councilor noted the city’s family pass was listed in the packet as “103” while River Road’s was listed as about “450.” Councilors discussed modest increases (several suggested $3–$5 per pass or similar incremental adjustments), and asked staff to provide revenue projections for proposed increases and to identify the extent to which peer pools rely on general‑fund subsidies versus pure fee recovery.

Council direction: staff will return with a refined spreadsheet that (a) estimates revenue generated by specific rate increases, (b) shows how peers subsidize pools (general fund, special districts, or fee‑based), and (c) explains potential uses for any additional revenue (operations, wages, or infrastructure set‑asides). No rate change was adopted at the work session.