Cost of Girl Guide sleepovers about to increase almost 90 per cent

The cost of Brownie and Girl Guide sleepover badge programs at the city-owned Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site is about to increase to $75, from the $40 currently charged.

That's an 87.5 per cent hike, listed without explanation among user fee raises slated for approval at Monday's City Council meeting.

If councillors agree, it will take effect Jan. 1.

"Increasingly municipalities are looking at user fees to help offset the impact on municipal services on property taxes," says Jacob Bruzas, the city's manager of fiinance.

"User fees are one of the few controllable sources of revenue that can reduce the reliance on property taxes. The rationale for user fees is that those who clearly benefit from the service should be the ones to pay for it," Bruzas says.

The proposed user fee increases, from all city departments, are expected to bring in $105,660 a year.

Most are in the two per cent range to account for inflation.

The new Sault Transit fares will be:

• adult, youth and senior cash fares - $3.05
• adult monthly pass - $70.40
• school board monthly pass - $48.45
• senior monthly pass - $60.20
• youth monthly pass - $30.60
• 20-ride punch pass - $48.45
• senior multi six-ride pass - $9.70
• senior multi 12-ride pass - $19.40
• Community Living Algoma - $55.60
• semester pass - $193.80

A decade after Canada stopped issuing pennies, the price of an adult swim at city pools will rise from $4.75 to $4.78.

Monday's City Council meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m.