Decorah Park-Rec Department to increase fees by 25 percent

Fees to participate in Decorah Parks & Recreation Department programs will be going up in 2011--by an average of 25 percent.

Park-Rec Director Rick Edwards said the Park-Rec Board has taken the action because it learned that almost half of the people participating in Park-Rec programs are from outside the City of Decorah--and their property taxes do not pay for the costs of the Park-Rec. Department.  The new system will make sure the people who use the programs share in paying the costs.

The fee increases will affect the Decorah Campground, the Decorah Pool and Decorah recreational programs.  It's expected that the higher fees will bring in an extra $60,000 in revenue for the Park-Rec Department.