ST. PETE BEACH — City commissioners voted unanimously to raise recreation fees for nonresidents while holding the line on what residents pay for the same camps, classes and facilities.
The increases are one of several ways the city is bracing for the possibility of losing property tax revenue, a scenario city officials have called potentially devastating to the budget.
Resident Services Director Mandy Edmunds, who presented the 2027 rate proposal, said the goal is to improve cost recovery while protecting services for residents. The city projects the new rates will generate $49,550 more a year, a 17.8% increase in recreation revenue.
“It’s important to emphasize this is a revenue projection, not additional profit,” Edmunds said. “Even with these adjustments, many of our programs continue to be subsidized by the city.”
The rates are based on the city’s latest recreation fee study, current participation and anticipated operating conditions in 2027, she said. Commissioners had earlier directed staff to leave resident fees alone, Edmunds said, and that direction shaped the proposal.
Program registration revenue is expected to rise 11%, and admissions and sales 12%. The largest jump, 33%, is projected to come from rentals and permits.
“This is intentional, because rentals and permits are heavily used by nonresidents and represent the greatest opportunities to improve cost recovery while minimizing impacts on residents,” Edmunds said.
The steepest single increase is at the fitness room, where the monthly nonresident fee nearly triples, from $16 to $45. Residents will continue to pay $10.
Renting the Warren Webster Building will cost nonresidents $100 an hour, up from $60, and $104 in 2028. Residents pay $54. Park and pool pavilion rentals go from $75 to $95 an hour for nonresidents, while the resident rate holds at $50. The Boca Ciega Room, popular for weddings and parties, jumps from $250 to $415 for nonresidents; residents pay $225. Meeting and event space at the Don Vista Community Center rises from $50 to $85 an hour for nonresidents, compared with $45 for residents.
The city’s 10-week summer camp will cost nonresident families $150 a week per child, up from $125. Residents pay $100. The sibling rate for nonresidents rises $20 to $120 for each additional child, while residents pay $80.
Camp extras carry the same split. Friday hot lunch goes from $10 to $15 for nonresident children, while residents keep paying $10. A camp shirt costs nonresidents $20, compared with $15 for residents. Late pickup will run nonresidents $1 more per minute, per child.
Even Breakfast with Santa is not exempt: a nonresident child will pay $15, or $5 more than a resident child.
In a report to commissioners, city management analyst Kathleen Murray wrote that the city is seeking to increase non-ad valorem revenue in several areas. Doing so helps the bottom line, she wrote, and also prepares the city in the event property taxes are eliminated statewide, which she said could have a devastating impact on St. Pete Beach.
Commissioners also agreed to set recreation fees by resolution rather than by ordinance. Removing the fees from the city code will let officials review and update them more efficiently, according to the city. The ordinance does not itself create a new fee; it changes the mechanism by which fees are adopted.
Resident Deborah Schechner urged commissioners not to treat every program as something that must pay for itself. She asked the city to build in exemptions and revive past partnerships — including one with All Children’s Hospital to teach children to swim each year — arguing that free lessons could reduce drownings.
“Part of recreation is something the city does for residents, and if you price things too high they won’t participate or they’ll go elsewhere,” Schechner said.
Commissioners adopted the revised fee schedule without further discussion.