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Nonprofits warn Bethel Park rate hikes at community center could force long‑running fundraiser to move
Summary
Members of the Bethel Park Alliance Club and other residents told council that proposed increases to community‑center rental rates would make a decades‑long fundraiser unaffordable, and urged the borough to consider smaller increases and clearer notification of policy changes.
Sandy Dimas, speaking for the Bethel Park Alliance Club, told the council on May 11 that a planned rental increase for the community center would likely force the club to move its longtime cash‑and‑prize fundraising event out of Bethel Park.
"In 2025, we rented all the rooms... we paid a rental of $425. In 2026, we paid a rental of $546. In 2027, we're hearing our rate is gonna go up to $1,485 for the same space," Dimas said, noting the group uses proceeds to support about 23 organizations, 11 of them local. She said the jump — roughly $939 — is "not doable" and suggested a 10% increase would be more reasonable.
Earlier in the meeting, Sue Means criticized the process used to change municipal building use and charging policies for nonprofits, saying nonprofits had not been properly notified and that no written policy was provided. "When I was in this room, it was a train wreck… I don't even know if you were allowed to vote on that, because I thought you had to decide... whether to move it to this agenda," Means said, urging clarity and public notice.
Council President acknowledged confusion coming out of a recent workshop and said Municipal Manager Christine Denny had been directed to refine the proposal and return with clearer materials. "By the end of the last meeting... the manager said she was gonna sharpen her pencil and she was gonna work with staff to bring something before us for the next workshop meeting," the president said.
No council vote was taken on rental rates at the May 11 meeting. Manager Denny and council members said staff would follow up and present revised proposals at a future workshop.
Why it matters: Local nonprofits that rely on community‑center rental income for grants and services said the proposed increase threatens longstanding fundraising traditions and local programming. Council did not adopt rate changes at this meeting and directed staff to return with more detail.
Next steps: Staff will prepare a revised proposal for an upcoming workshop; council members asked for clearer written policy language and broader notification to affected nonprofits.
