An Update Regarding Facility Fees for the City of Maricopa

Published on October 05, 2023

The City of Maricopa is committed to enhancing the experience of our community members, and fostering a thriving local environment is about to make securing meeting spaces even more affordable. We are excited to share with you some changes to our facility rental policy that aim to prioritize the needs of our local residents, businesses, and non-profits.

This initiative was first discussed at this year’s Future's Planning meeting, reflecting our dedication to forward-thinking strategies. After careful consideration and valuable input from the public at two City Council meetings and a work session, the Council this week officially adopted this new policy.

Here are the key highlights of the adjusted facility rental policy:

1. Discounts for Local Residents and Non-Profits: Starting from November 2, 2023, local residents and non-profit organizations will benefit from a 35% discount off the current resident rate. We believe this discount will help support local initiatives and community-driven projects.
2. Base Rate for Local Businesses: Local businesses will continue to enjoy the advantage of utilizing the current resident rate, which will now become the base rate. This ensures that our local businesses remain competitive and supported by fair pricing.
3. Fee Adjustments for Non-Residents: In our efforts to prioritize local interests, non-residents will see a fee adjustment. Non-resident fees will be set at 200% of the base rate. This adjustment will be subject to a 60-day posting period and Council consideration at the December 5 Council meeting.
4. Future Considerations: The new classifications for room rentals will provide our staff with the opportunity to collect additional data. This data will be instrumental in discussions during Future's Planning for the next fiscal year, where we will assess the policy's impact and determine if further modifications are needed to best meet the evolving needs of our community.

The authority to establish appropriate fees and facility use on an annual basis rests with the City Council. The policy is intended to establish a standardized approach to assessing fees for the use of City facilities, determine which users or groups should pay at what percentage, maintain all fees at a fair market level to encourage participation, strive to collect a degree of cost recovery, and to lessen the burden on the City and the General Fund. Striking the appropriate balance which ensures equity among its users and achieving an acceptable level of taxpayer subsidy, all while avoiding competing against the private sector, is no small task and one that is subject to periodic review. 

We appreciate the engagement and feedback from our residents during the public discussion sessions. Your insights have been invaluable in shaping this policy, and we look forward to its positive impact on our community. To explore the new rates in detail, click here.