Little League shocked by field use fees

January 26th, 2011 · 14 Comments

The Magnolia Little League is facing a huge increase in fees for the use of city ball fields this season. League president Keith Peterson says they received an invoice for $24,000 for 2011. Last year the league paid $9,800 for field use.

Peterson says the increase far exceeds anything the league was expecting for the year. Last October the league was told by the city to expect a 20% increase in field fees to assist with the budget deficit. However, when the Seattle City Council passed their budget in November they increased field fees by approximately 120% and also initiated a new fee of $20 per hour for the use of lights.

According to Peterson, there was no communication with youth sports organizations regarding this decision. Magnolia Little League only learned of the change when they received the invoice.

“The amount of the increase and the method employed is outrageous and will negatively impact what all youth sports leagues can provide for kids. This is not just an issue for Magnolia Little League, but all youth sports leagues,” said Peterson.

Peterson is asking little league parents and supporters to contact city council members to share their concerns about the increase.

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Prisilla

Perhaps now they will not leave the lights on at all hours when not in use, at least those of us who endure the light pollution will get some relief.

This is a hard time for everyone but encouraging children to be physically active and learn to be part of a team is essential too. I am sorry the city has boosted the fees so unreasonably and hope they will reconsider. An e-mail to the proper gov’t entity is in order, the Park Dept?

Chris

Most new ball fields have computer controlled lighting that turns the field lights off when not in use. That could even be done from a home computer with the right password and software. Issaquah’s new soccer fields are run this way, as are most constructed today. Installing that system wouldn’t cost that much in relation to the long term electrical use costs.
Chris

Most new ball fields have computer controlled lighting that turns the field lights off when not in use. That could even be done from a home computer with the right password and software. Issaquah’s new soccer fields are run this way, as are most constructed today. Installing that system wouldn’t cost that much in relation to the long term electrical use costs.

Just Me

The fact that the parks have been paid for by taxpayers already, followed by 120% increase without notice is more than an outrage. The city sees an opportunity to make up for a shortfall in revenue by accounting tricks such as these. Why am I not surprised? How about they start by cutting some fat downtown. They’re taking it out on the kids. Ironically enough the result will be fewer children participating with fewer teams on the field, hence less revenue. This is the law of diminishing returns. Government always thinks if it raises taxes they’ll get more money. They’re always surprised when they actually get less. Just remember, more people in parks equal more work for bureaucrats. They prefer fewer people and less work. It’s the nature of all bureaucracies.
Just Me

The fact that the parks have been paid for by taxpayers already, followed by 120% increase without notice is more than an outrage. The city sees an opportunity to make up for a shortfall in revenue by accounting tricks such as these. Why am I not surprised? How about they start by cutting some fat downtown. They’re taking it out on the kids. Ironically enough the result will be fewer children participating with fewer teams on the field, hence less revenue. This is the law of diminishing returns. Government always thinks if it raises taxes they’ll get more money. They’re always surprised when they actually get less. Just remember, more people in parks equal more work for bureaucrats. They prefer fewer people and less work. It’s the nature of all bureaucracies.
hulagrrrl

Welcome to the club Little Leaguers! Soccer players have been having field use fees increase pretty consistantly. To add insult ot injury, when you pay $90-$100 per player per season, you then have to pay parking fees at some parks (isn’t that what some of the fees should go towards?)
Anonymous

Field fees are field fees, whether soccer or baseball, so Little League, like soccer programs, has seen these increases pretty consistently as well. They just hadn’t seen a 120% increase in fees in one year with no warning whatsoever. So Little League will welcome the soccer programs to “the club” once soccer season rolls around. Fortunately they will have had the heads up and will have been able to set their budgets accordingly. There is irony in these huge increases as city governments struggle with the issue of childhood obesity. We can fund new obesity task forces by raising the costs for field use!
Anonymous

Field fees are field fees, whether soccer or baseball, so Little League, like soccer programs, has seen these increases pretty consistently as well. They just hadn’t seen a 120% increase in fees in one year with no warning whatsoever. So Little League will welcome the soccer programs to “the club” once soccer season rolls around. Fortunately they will have had the heads up and will have been able to set their budgets accordingly. There is irony in these huge increases as city governments struggle with the issue of childhood obesity. We can fund new obesity task forces by raising the costs for field use!
Shoeless Joe

To Hulagrrrl

Huh??
Sam

Yep, that is what happens when the government is out of money. Seems fairly insignificant compared to the social services programs that are being eliminated. I would love Magnolia kids to be able to play baseball, but I also want the mentally ill to receive their meds, the disabled to receive basic assistance, 911 services to remain intact.

Just Me

Wow, with needs such as those it’s difficult to compete. Let’s start by closing the parks department, taking the money and ending world hunger. Sorry kids, there are more important priorities than your privileged recreation programs. Suck it up.

Heather

Sam is right. When you have a shortage of funds, you have to make difficult choices. Kids playing baseball is a luxury that simply is not affordable right now (at least not without more contribution from the players’ parents). We could raise taxes, but given the last election, its highly unlike that is going to happen. Now we are reaping the rewards…

sk1250

So we see a 120% increase and can’t even get turfed fields. Well we must be paying for all of the other fields.
Monty

Use the money to put furry ears on the the kids’ baseball caps and the pinhead bureaucrats will think the field’s an off-leash dog park.