Transit and policing to cost more next year

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This article was published 05/12/2024 (548 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City of Brandon will vote on a proposal to hike service fees by three to seven per cent at a council meeting this month, citing elevated material and labour costs.

Speaking to the Sun, Troy Tripp, director of finance at the city, said the city’s 2025 Schedule of Fees is on the docket for the Dec. 16 city council meeting.

“The cost of inputs, such as labour and materials, largely drives the proposed fee increases,” said Tripp. “[They] can be attributed to collective bargaining agreements, contractual obligations, and inflationary pressures.”

City services, including transit, policing, firefighting, airport maintenance, costs for cemetery plots, and golfing are set to become more costly.

However, the cost of emergency medical response services will remain unchanged at $550. The City of Brandon has entered an MOU with Wheat City Tennis Club for operations of the tennis courts.  They will set the fees for daily and season passes.

The city is looking to offset increased costs by incorporating them in the prices for services listed in the Schedule of Fees, Tripp added. The main goal is to keep things affordable, but the city still needs to pay for the work required to keep Brandon running.

He further said city staff will compare prices quoted by different companies before purchasing in order to ensure the city is paying fair prices.

Brandon city residents will likely pay more for public transit next year, with adult fares scheduled to go up to $2 next year, while youth and senior fares are set to increase to $1.50. A discounted rate would be available for a 10-trip pass or a 30-day pass.

Policing and firefighting services will also cost three per cent more on average. Following the increase, getting a police report will cost $77.25, up from $75.25. Prices for other policing services, such as training, fingerprinting, lodging detainees, and drawing accident diagrams are also set to increase.

The cost of a firefighting service truck for the first hour of operation is set to go up from $1,218 to $1,255. The second hour will cost $856 in the new year.

Airport improvement fees will be raised from $10.70 per departing passenger to $15. Landing fees and terminal charges are set to rise by five per cent.

Higher costs of operation will boost cemetery plot and internment rates, which are set to go up by three per cent on average. The cost for a plot in the regular section is set to rise from $2,215 to $2,281 in the new year.

When it comes to recreation, Golf Brandon Inc. is expected to raise its green fees by eight per cent. Golf cart storage fees are expected to rise by five per cent, and cart rentals are set to increase to $2 per cart.

Tripp said the list of increases this year are similar to those seen in previous years, which have ranged from two to six per cent.

» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com