Council waives outstanding fees for Newport Youth Basketball after debate over process and cost

The Newport City Council voted to waive outstanding facility fees owed by Newport Youth Basketball for the current season and directed city administration to meet with program leaders to establish a reasonable fee schedule going forward.

Sponsor language in the resolution asked the administration to waive accumulated charges and to work with league leadership to create a sustainable arrangement for future seasons. The council heard from Kirk Reese, the recreation administrator, who provided rough hard-cost numbers for municipal support: a facility attendant ($~2,000) and janitorial supplies (~$1,500) with other utility costs not included; Reese described the ballpark figure for those “hard” soft costs as less than $5,000.

Parents and volunteer organizers said the volunteer-run program grew from roughly seven players in its first year to about 100 players, and that fundraising and volunteer hours have tried to cover costs. A parent representative said the program now fields multiple teams and that indoor court time is limited and difficult to secure.

Councilors debated the process and fairness to other nonprofits and whether a formal application should have been submitted for fee relief. Several council members urged staff and league leadership to negotiate a longer-term solution; others argued the city should be cautious about fully subsidizing programs that serve participants beyond Newport.

After public testimony and discussion, council approved the resolution to waive the outstanding fees for the season and directed administration to report back with a recommended fee schedule and any proposed funding options.