Fitness Center Fees Could Increase in 2009

Fitness news: The 4,900 members of the Twinsburg Fitness Center may see a 5 percent rate increase next year as the city continues trying to make the facility more financially self-sufficient. If an increase is improved, Sorace said it will become effective in January.

A motion was introduced at an Oct. 28 Council meeting to increase annual fitness center fees by 5 percent, which would bring in between $30,000 and $50,000 per year for the city to operate the center. The city has had to use approximately $200,000 to $500,000 from its general fund each of the last few years to help the center meet its budget, according to Parks and Recreation Director Derek Schroeder.

The center is open to Twinsburg School District residents and those who work in the city.

“The increase will not get rid of the deficit and prevent the city from paying a subsidy, but it will help,” Councilor Gary Sorace said.

Schroeder said he supports the “small” membership increase.

“If we wanted to offset all of the costs, we would have to crank up the membership fees and open up membership to anyone,” he said. “I don’t think that is what we want. Our members don’t want to come in and wait 40 minutes to use a treadmill.”

This kind of fee increase is probably happening to many fitness centres around the globe. Hopefully the financial crisis will stabilize very soon.

News source and full story at: Twinsburg Bulletin