Some fees to use Niagara Falls golf course going up next year

NIAGARA FALLS Some fees to use Hyde Park Golf Course are going up next year.

And many inspection permit fees from City Hall have been raised, with some new ones added, too.

These appear to be part of the fallout from the disjointed city budget process lawmakers and Mayor Paul A. Dyster recently completed.

The bottom line is the City of Niagara Falls is facing financial challenges, and one way to deal with them is to try to increase revenue by raising fees.

The City Council last week approved the fee hikes, which were supported by the mayor, in two separate 3-2 votes.

In terms of golf course fees, the season pass for those with disabilities will rise from $500 to $600. Golfers also will have to pay $100 more for season passes to use a golf cart, while the fee to play the Red Nine course will rise from $5 to $9. Buckets of golf balls at the driving range are also going up in price by $1 per bucket.

Supporters said the increases will be used to help fund improvements at the municipal course, the operations of which will be subsidized with tax dollars next year by more than $400,000, according to the city budget.

In October, lawmakers tabled a measure to pay for the installation of a paved golf cart path at the course because of concerns with the citys finances.

Councilman Andrew P. Touma said he believes many of the courses fees are a little below the fees at other municipal courses in the area. Touma said he spoke about the issue with David James, the golf course manager, who had discussions with some golfers about the courses fees.

He realized the fees havent been increased for some time and the increased revenue we could put back into the course, he said.

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Some fees to use Niagara Falls golf course going up next year