User Fees Study

Question 1 - What do the taxes we pay go towards? 

Answer 1 - Here is the link to the City’s budget page which provides information on both operating and capital budgets and taxes. https://www.belleville.ca/en/city-hall/operating-budget-101.aspx 

Question 2 - How much city tax payer money was spent conducting this study? 

Answer 2 - The consultant (StrategyCorp Inc) was contracted to conduct the review in the amount of $50,000. 

Question 3 - What services are being increased to match the increased fees?

Answer 3 - At this time, the current fees being charged do not cover the full costs of the programs and services offered by the City. The report outlines the current cost recovery percentages and the targets.

Question 1- With these drastic fee increases, can we expect significant facility improvements including security. Thank you for requesting my input.

Answer 1 - At this time, the current fees being charged do not cover the full costs of the programs and services offered by the City. The report outlines the current cost recovery percentages and the targets.  Furthermore, the City has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years to renew the docks and pedestals.

Question 2 - Will the sliding scale of cost recovery be revisited by council? Will the increase in harbor fees be scaled back and implemented at a more reasonable rate?

Answer 2 - A report will go forward to Council on September 23 outlining the various options available. 

Question 3 - Is there a document which outlines the capital expenditure plans for Victoria Park Harbour?  If so I would like to read it. 

Answer 3 - The City is in the process of developing a 10-Year Capital Plan for all Facility assets.  As part of the current Asset Management Plan, condition assessments are being completed on all facilities and associated components which will help provide direction once finalized on the expected expenditures for the facilities. The capital expenditures in this study represent the average annual investment needed to support the capital projects required to maintain current service levels at the City’s harbours. This annualization approach aligns with standard municipal asset management practices, ensuring a strategy is considered to fund these expenditures over the long-term planning period. Capital budgets are approved annually by Council, and investments in specific service areas may fluctuate from year to year. The annualized investment helps accommodate potential spikes in spending throughout the planning period. For more information, the City’s 2024 Asset Management Plan can be requested at https://forms.belleville.ca/Do-Business/Growth-Management/Asset-Management-Plan 

Question 4 - Please explain or describe the $825,900 Capitol expenditure for Harbours in 2024?

Answer 4 - The capital expenditures in this study represent the average annual investment needed to support the capital projects required to maintain current service levels at the City’s harbours. This annualization approach aligns with standard municipal asset management practices, ensuring a strategy is considered to fund these expenditures over the long-term planning period. Capital budgets are approved annually by Council, and investments in specific service areas may fluctuate from year to year. The annualized investment helps accommodate potential spikes in spending throughout the planning period. For more information, the City’s 2024 Asset Management Plan can be requested at https://forms.belleville.ca/Do-Business/Growth-Management/Asset-Management-Plan 

Question 5 - In other city run programs there is an extra surcharge for on tax paying residences, why is that not enforced at the marinas ?

Answer 5 - At this time, the City does not charge different rates for residents and non-residents. For program registrations we do allow City Taxpayers/Residents to register before Non City Taxpayers/Residents (by four days) but the rates are the same. More than 66% of the seasonal slips at our marinas are currently booked by  Belleville residents while an additional 15% live just outside of Belleville. 

Question 6 - I would like to know why the excessive increase in fees when i have no access to hydro and i have paid for it on my dock.

Answer 6 - At this time, the current fees being charged do not cover the full costs of the operation of the marinas. The report outlines the current cost recovery percentages and the targets. 

Question 7 - How do you justify the increase for Victoria Harbour given its short comings?

Answer 7 - At this time, the current fees being charged do not cover the full costs of the operation of the marinas. The report outlines the current cost recovery percentages and the targets.  Furthermore, the City has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years to renew the docks and is considering additional investments during the 2025 Capital Budget process. 

Question 8 - I am interested in what is included in the mtc and operating costs for the Harbour (ie does it include the mtc, water, mtc for the Pier bar? it should not, Does it include the Hill green space (public space) and all the water pumps/ electricity etc that run there. I would also like to understand what is in the 2024 Capital 825,900 costs, and if it includes anything to do with the pier itself (had to have fences this year because it is crumbling) .This is public space... not boater space. Also the Cost of 85 per foot that was calculated, does that include electricity? because we pay for slip/foot and electricity separately... so when I calculate out the 22% increase, my actual cost per foot would be around $72 not 63.

Answer 8 - The capital expenditures in this study represent the average annual investment needed to support the capital projects required to maintain current service levels at the City’s harbours. This annualization approach aligns with standard municipal asset management practices, ensuring a strategy is considered to fund these expenditures over the long-term planning period. Capital budgets are approved annually by Council, and investments in specific service areas may fluctuate from year to year. The annualized investment helps accommodate potential spikes in spending throughout the planning period. For more information, the City’s 2024 Asset Management Plan can be requested at https://forms.belleville.ca/Do-Business/Growth-Management/Asset-Management-Plan.

Furthermore, the City has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years to renew the docks and is considering additional investments during the 2025 Capital Budget process.  But, as highlighted in the User Fees Study, the current dockage fees being charged do not cover the full costs of the operation of the marinas.  The Community Services Department continues to review and refine the Harbours budget to ensure marina and waterfront expenses are separated. 

Question 9 - What is the projected end state for rapid rate increases to harbour rentals? 

Answer 9 - The User Fees Study recommendations include one-time fee increases in 2025 and 2026 with inflationary/market increases thereafter.

Question 1 - Why are all youth and adult Belleville programs paying the same cost to rent the fields as outside users when every other city charges them more?

Answer 1 - Many municipalities including Belleville do not have resident and non resident fees. This is something that will be explored by City staff as part of the consultant’s recommendations.

Question 1 - Will the city entertain memberships vice pay per use?

Answer 1 - The facility is not set up to offer traditional memberships as many of our spaces are used for both programming and rentals. Where feasible we have introduced session passes and will continue to explore these options.

Question 2 - Will staff consider offering an annual pass for residents to use the pool for lane swims? Other municipalities across Ontario currently do. What happened to the Wellness Passport? Will it be considered again? Why is it free and open for anyone to use the indoor track for example? Why not offer the Passport for City residents to access the track and other parts of the QSWC, but if say a resident of Prince Edward County, Tweed or Napanee wants to have a Passport, they pay $20 per year, or some other determined amount? Make those who come for swim meets and hockey tournaments from outside our region have to pay to use the walking track. Otherwise right now they can use it for free and that's extra wear that City taxpayers have to help pay for. Also, can the City offer an online booking system (especially for ice rentals) like what's offered by the City of Quinte West?

Answer 2 - The facility is not set up to offer traditional memberships as many of our spaces are used for both programming and rentals. Where feasible we have introduced session passes and will continue to explore these options.

At this time we do not have a different rate for non-City residents and taxpayers but this is something City staff will be reviewing as per the consultant’s recommendations.

The FDC Indoor Track is free of charge. When the building was built, the track was an important feature providing all spectators and participants with an opportunity to walk/run while at the facility.

The City has an online booking system for recreation programs and offers a facility request form for rentals. City staff will explore online booking viewing for last minute booking opportunities.

Question 3 - Is it possible to lover the senior age to 60? Many seniors are on fixed incomes that prevent access to many programs.

Answer 3 - Our Older Adult age is 50+ for our 50+ Centre and older adult programming. 

Question 4 - Is it possible to lover the senior age to 60? Many seniors are on fixed incomes that prevent access to many programs.

Answer 4 - Our Older Adult age is 50+ for our 50+ Centre and older adult programming.