In a recent workshop held on June 24, 2025, the Georgetown City Council discussed significant changes to fee structures for various city services, including recreational programs and library services, aimed at better understanding community needs and enhancing revenue.

One of the primary topics was the potential implementation of nonresident fees for city recreational programs. Council members expressed a desire to analyze the impact of charging nonresidents for swim lessons, summer camps, and youth basketball. The discussion highlighted the need for a cost service analysis in fiscal year 2025, followed by a comprehensive cost recovery study in 2026. This study will assess the balance between resident and nonresident participation and the financial implications of different fee structures.

The council is particularly interested in understanding how these changes might affect program usage and revenue generation. With a waitlist of 349 individuals for certain programs, officials are keen to explore how pricing adjustments could influence participation rates.

The library's fee structure was also a focal point of the meeting. Currently, the library generates revenue through nonresident fees, meeting room rentals, and other services, totaling approximately $152,427 in fiscal year 2024. However, state regulations limit the fees that can be charged, particularly for access to library resources. The proposed changes include increasing the nonresident card fee to $100, with discounts for seniors and shorter-term memberships available.

Additionally, the council discussed meeting room rental fees, proposing to maintain current rates for nonprofit organizations while increasing fees for commercial events. This approach aims to prioritize community use of library facilities while ensuring that commercial entities contribute fairly to the costs associated with their events.

As the council moves forward with these discussions, they aim to balance the need for revenue with the goal of providing accessible services to all residents and visitors. The next steps will involve gathering more data on usage patterns and community feedback to inform final decisions on these proposed changes.