Nov. 21--The Chicago Park District wants to increase fees to take part in park programs, raise parking rates at meters in parks and hike various permit costs as part of its 2015 budget proposal.
The Park District is not asking for a property tax increase as part of the spending plan, but will rely on the fee hikes and hoped-for increases in revenue from park concessions and rentals to help balance the $448.6 million budget, officials said. The proposed 2015 spending plan is about $23 million higher than this year's budget, according to the park district.
Parking meter rates would go up 50 cents to $1.75 an hour during "peak hours" between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and would increase 25 cents to 75 cents an hour for the "non-peak" overnight parking from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., according to the Park District. The district operates 29 metered parking lots, mainly near lakefront beaches, harbors and museums.
The budget also includes an increase in the cost of participating in park programs, including popular summer camps and swim classes, with fees going up "in most cases less than one dollar per hour of programming," according to a park district news release.
The cost of picnic rentals, athletic field rentals and other types of permits would go up by 1.6 percent, Park District spokeswoman Jessica Maxey-Faulkner said.
The reliance on fee increases to balance the Park District budget is in keeping with Mayor Rahm Emanuel's moves to avoid politically dangerous hikes to property, sales and gasoline taxes by instead bumping up a host of smaller expenses.
A Tribune analysis published this week found that a typical Chicago family -- with a $250,000 home, metered water service, an average cable TV bill, three phones, a car and an SUV -- will pay nearly $481 more in city fees and taxes next year then they paid in 2011, when Emanuel took office.
The Park District also expects to collect an additional $600,000 next year from money that will return to its coffers as special tax districts expire or Emanuel terminates them.
The Park District's plan to hold the line on property taxes for 2015 comes after Superintendent Michael Kelly included a $3.6 million property tax increase in the district's 2014 budget. That was the Park District's first property tax increase since 2005.
The proposal includes money for expanded late summer camp programs for children in the weeks before school starts up, and an increase in baseball and softball programs across the city, officials said.
A public hearing on the budget plan is set for Dec. 3. District commissioners are to vote on the plan Dec. 10.
jebyrne@tribpub.com
Twitter @_johnbyrne
