Beach, marina fee hikes eyed
FAIRFIELD — As he prepares his budget for fiscal year 2019- 20, Recreation Director Anthony Calabrese is looking to raise some of the fees charged to users.
How much will be up to the Parks & Recreation Commission, which will hold a discussion at its Nov. 14 meeting.
Calabrese is recommending increasing not only the fees for a non- resident beach sticker from $ 175 to $ 200, but he is also suggesting a bump in slips fees for the town’s marina.
At the October meeting, Calabrese presented the commission with several options for the marina increases, ranging from 5 percent to 25 percent. He compared the town’s rates to other municipal marinas. Members agreed it was time to get Fairfield’s fees in line with other towns.
For example, a small boat slip fee in Fairfield is $ 565 for the season, while next door in Westport, it is $ 875. Greenwich charges $ 700 and Stamford charges $ 756.
A 10 percent increase would bring the cost for a small boat to $ 622, and for now, that is what Calabrese is recommending. There is a committee looking at improvements to the marina, and he said based on what those plans turn out to be, the slip fees can be raised in the future.
Board member Alexa Mullady said she thought the board should go with a 25 percent increase. That would increase the small boat slip fee to $ 707.
Members of the public will be able to comment on the fee increases at the November meeting.
Mullady also suggested the non- resident sticker fee be increased to $ 300. Calabrese said the increase to $ 200, based on the approximately 1,600 passes sold, would raise about another $ 38,000, and still leaves the cost lower than many other towns.