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El Paso County delays proposed parks and recreation fee increases after concerns about access and outreach
Summary
County staff proposed a broad package of fee increases for planning, parks and recreation, facilities and infrastructure intended to recover costs; the court agreed to postpone final adoption of parks fees to allow outreach and more analysis after commissioners and community members raised equity and usage concerns.
El Paso County’s Commissioner's Court heard a sweeping presentation June 1 proposing higher fees for planning permits, sports-park rentals, pool admissions, special events, park parking and other public-works services, but the court paused final action on the parks and recreation changes to give staff extra time for outreach and revenue/use projections.
County planning and public-works officials told the court they had not raised many of these fees since 2022 and that inflation and growing service demand mean applicants — not the general taxpayer — should bear more of discretionary service costs. Michael Moy, planning and development director, presented a three-tier menu of low/medium/high increases and said the “high” level aligns with regional comparables such as the City of El Paso and best reflects actual staff time and cost recovery.
Moy said higher fees would limit implicit subsidies and allow the department to meet service levels expected by developers and residents; he characterized the recommended high tier as “consistent with regional standards and reflective of regional cost recovery.”
Parks Director Tim Fulton outlined the largest and most sensitive proposals: reintroducing weekend vehicle parking ($3 for Saturdays and Sundays, with $50 annual and $30 seasonal passes), higher tournament and tournament-field-prep fees, an expanded system of event/manager support charges, and modest increases to pool admission (for example, adult daily passes proposed to rise from $3 to $4). Fulton said the changes would bring County rates closer to comparable regional providers and help cover maintenance, staffing and event support costs.
Several commissioners and the judge asked staff to provide more analysis before any vote. Commissioner Olin and others flagged the potential effect on low-income residents and local nonprofits. Commissioner Olin said pools and playgrounds can be the only affordable recreation available for many families in summer and asked whether modest price increases might lower usage. Judge (presiding) and Commissioner Stout requested clearer estimates of the additional revenue each change would generate and suggested options such as punch cards, targeted passes, or limited fee-sharing where fees could be partially returned to nonprofits that run charitable events.
Fulton acknowledged the equity concerns and agreed to produce more detailed projected revenue figures, sensitivity analysis on probable decreases in use, and options for discounted passes or nonprofit accommodations. He also said the busiest tournament and field-prep events place high maintenance demands on staff and that tournament fees have not been keeping pace with increasing operational costs.
After extended discussion the court directed staff to pause final adoption of the parks and recreation fee schedule and return in a few weeks with additional outreach and more detailed projections. Planning, facilities and infrastructure fee proposals (outside parks) will be brought back for formal adoption following additional review, per the court’s schedule.
What happens next: County staff will provide itemized revenue projections and equity options (passes, discounts, nonprofit policy) and carry out outreach to organizers and community stakeholders before the court votes. The court’s pause means no immediate change to park or pool prices while alternatives are evaluated.
