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Show City looks to county residents for higher recreation fees by CHRISTOPHER SMART Record staff writer Park City Recreation Director Steve Haugen was told by the city council May 23 he must charge county residents higher rates to participate in the town's programs. The council's action came during ' its annual budget session. The body must balance its $8 million Operating Operat-ing Budget by June 13. Citing a slowdown in additional tax revenues from new property, the council told Haugen it did not look favorably on his request for more Recreation Department personnel. In addition to a proposed $172,000 annual budget, Haugen asked the council to fund a full-time special events coordinator at $16,000 and a part time secretary for $6,000. In making the request, Haugen cited a 225 percent increase in programs over the past two years. Haugen raised the council's ire by reporting that the Summit County Commission has determined to give Pa5itJtetReereation Departihent -- only $3,000 even though one-third to one-half of the participants in the town's programs live outside the city limits. , "As a taxpayer, I resent paying for programs for county residents. We're subsidizing county residents," resi-dents," Haugen said. City Councilman Bill Coleman suggested that county residents should be charged higher rates to participate in Park City recreation programs. He told Haugen increased fees from county residents could fund his personnel request. The topic of a special recreation district was again raised by City Councilman Jim Doilney, who maintains the city should not fund programs for county residents who don't pay city taxes. As discussed earlier this year with the Park City Board of Education a recreation district would include all taxpayers within the school district's boundaries. boun-daries. "Even County Commissioner Tom Flinders says there has to be a special recreation district," Doilney '''Said ;"f,J '. wxr.r-M?. ' - ' ' Doilney's comments followed several complaints about the county commission's reluctance to fund Park City programs even though they are used by county residents. Councilman Bob Wells wondered: "Will charging for activities increase pressure on the county commission (to subsidize the Recreation Department?" Depart-ment?" County residents are now receiving receiv-ing recreation almost free of charge, "so why should they do anything?" said Councilman TomShellenberger. He maintains that without the increased fees the county commission commis-sion will continue to contribute to Park City activities at a substandard rate. Increased fees will result in county residents pressuring the commission to raise its funding to the city, he said. The council asked Haugen to devise a rate scale for Park City residents and county residents. Haugen is expected to bring that plan along with his budgetary proposals back to the council thfe . '"week.'-- :"'"" " |