The rates for the Community Center will likely be going up in 2013. 

Brecksville City Council discussed the proposed changes during Tuesday’s Finance Committee meeting. Recreation Director Tom Tupa said the 20-year-old building has a lot of capital projects coming up, and the department needs to be able to stay competitive in terms of salaries. 

Tupa said in an interview after the meeting that overall costs have also gone up over the years. 

“It’s needed at this time,” he said.

According to a spreadsheet provided by the Recreation Department, the proposed fees would increase by $20 to $40 per year, depending on rate type. Families and married couples would see the highest increases, while seniors and people with disabilities would see the lowest.

The proposed annual fees start at $325 for families, $310 for married couples, $265 for single-parent families, $195 for adults, $100 for students, and $90 for seniors or people with disabilities. 

The fees are still just proposals. Council has to vote on them at an upcoming meeting. If passed, the new fees would go into effect in January, but Tupa said the Community Center plans to offer lower, "early-bird" fees for yearlong memberships in December. 

Tupa said the proposed fees are still low compared to surrounding communities, and Mayor Jerry N. Hruby told council that the city prides itself on keeping membership affordable to encourage use.