Ross Township officials are considering an increase in the cost of a six-week summer youth recreation program to make it more self-sustaining.
Township Commissioner Lana Mazur said during a commissioners meeting Monday that the township ends up covering about three-quarters of the cost of the program.
Mazur, who is chairwoman of the Recreation Committee, proposed raising the price to $35 or $40 per child. It is now $25 for the first child in a family and $15 for each additional child.
"We need to raise our rates," Mazur said. "I'm saying raise it to $40, which would be very reasonable. … We're not going to see a lot of squawking."
Peter Ferraro, chairman of the Board of Commissioners, agreed that the increase is reasonable.
"Believe me, six weeks for $40 is not a lot," he said.
The program is from 9 a.m. to noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the children go on field trips to places such as the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, museums and a Pirates baseball game. Some of these events carry extra charges, but program director Nicholle Alexander said the most expensive are only about $15, and some are free.
The program, which enrolls a maximum of 50 children at seven sites, runs from June 17 to July 25.
Each of the sites employs four or five counselors, with pay starting at $6.25 an hour, plus two or three volunteer counselors in training.
Alexander said that even if the proposed price increase comes to pass, demand for the program probably will remain high.
"You have kids that enjoy it a lot, and I don't think that that's a lot of money because they do a lot for the kids," she said.
At least one commissioner objects to the proposed change.
"I'm not going to support an increase in that program," Commissioner Daniel Kinross said. "It's a service to the community."
But, Mazur said, even if the price is bumped up to $35 or $40, it still will be lower than what most surrounding communities charge.
She said other municipalities charge as much as $150 for similar programs.
Tom Lavorini, township manager, said he has seen some that charge $75 a week.
The commissioners plan to vote on the rate increase at their next meeting, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday at the municipal building, 5325, Perrysville Ave.
