Pre-School, After-School Programs Set for Fee Increases

Parents of pre-schoolers could be paying another $5 to $9 per month to register their kids in the city's pre-school program next year if the Pinole City Council adopts new proposed fees on Tuesday.

A five percent increase for the Tiny Tots registration and a modified fee structure for after-school programs at the Pinole Youth Center are being proposed by city staff. Both programs are administered by the city's recreation department. The new rates would continue the practice of charging non-residents more than residents.

As recommended by Pinole Recreation Director Amy Wooldridge, the higher fees would apply to the 2012-13 fiscal year budget.

The proposed monthly Tiny Tots fee for three days per week would be $189 for three mornings per week for Pinole residents and $220 for non-residents. The montly cost would for three afternoons per week would be $157 for residents and $184 for non-residents. Enrollment for two days per week would be $105 for residents and $123 for non-residents.

The changes for the after-school programs at the youth center arose out of concerns among parents that the city had been charging a uniform monthly fee without accounting for vacation periods in the school year. As a result, the fees would be adjusted depending on the month of enrollment.

The fees for the after-school program at the youth center would range from $90 per month in December to $159 per month from May to September for residents. Non-residents would pay $103 for December to $175 for May through September. The proposal represents a 6 percent increase and includes a transportation fee. It would be an annual revenue increase of $5,000.

The new fee schedule also includes increases for evening classes at the youth center, ranging from $15 to $30 per month, depending on the month and resident status.

If adopted by the council, the changes would take effect on Aug. 1.

The fee increases are needed to ensure full recovery of costs to run the programs, Wooldridge wrote in a staff report. The recreation department is under council direction to be cost neutral. No additional fee increases are proposed for recreation programs for fiscal year 2012-13 at this time.

The full fee schedule for recreation programs are included in the document attached to this article.

Tuesday's council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at City Hall, 2131 Pear St. It will be televised live on Pinole TV Channel 26.