Horry county wants to start charging out-of-county people more money to use the county’s parks and recreation centers.
Leaders say about 10% of people who enjoy the county’s parks and rec services don’t even live in Horry County. Therefore, those people aren’t paying recreation taxes.
The Infrastructure and Regulation Committee approved fee increases at their meeting Tuesday. Those increases would apply to athletics, exercise programs and entrances to rec centers.
“We try to keep recreation fees affordable for all,” Paul McCulloch, the Head of Horry County Parks and Recreation said. “So when you’re receiving that benefit, and you’re not paying into it, it’s just not fair.”
These are the fees increases the committee is looking at, according to a county document:
Athletics County Residents: $40 Non-County Resident $50
Athletics (football) County Residents: $50 Non-County Residents $60
Exercise programs County Residents (Vary by program): Non-County Residents $10 more
Daily fee: County Residents $1 Non-County Residents $2
30 day fee: County Residents $10 Non-County residents $12
90 day fee: County Residents $25 Non-County Resident $30
180 day fee: County Residents $40 Non-County Resident $45
365 day fee: County Residents $60 Non-County Resident $70
When someone signs up for a service, new mapping software will be able to determine exactly where that person lives.
The fee increases still have to get county council’s approval and would go into effect next fiscal year.