AUSTIN, Texas — Last week, KVUE reported that the city of Austin's proposed budget includes plans to increase entry fees at Barton Springs Pool. Now some councilmembers are trying to prevent that from happening.
Under the proposed budget for the upcoming Fiscal Year, non-residents would see the entry fee at the pool increase from $9 to $10, while Austinites would see fees jump from $5 to $8. Seniors would also see a spike in fees – non-resident seniors would see prices increase from $5 to $7, while Austin seniors would see their fees go from $2 to $5.
Prices would also increase for people looking to purchase swim passes for the season. A non-resident family of four would pay $775 for the summer pass – a nearly 34% increase. Meanwhile, family passes for residents would only see a 15% increase to $590.
As is, the proposed budget shows that the increases in pool entry fees would generate more than $600,000 in revenue for Austin's General Fund. The increased fees would also apply to Bartholomew and Northwest municipal pools.
The news of the possible fee increase at Barton Springs caused a bit of a stir online, with some Austinites concerned about the potential price hike. Among them are Councilmembers Paige Ellis (District 8) and José “Chito” Vela (District 4).
On Tuesday, Ellis said she had called the city's budget staff because she doesn't want to see the fees increase and she is "fighting to keep pools affordable and accessible for all." A little less than an hour later, Ellis said her staff would be bringing forth an amendment to return pool entry fees to Fiscal Year 2024 levels during the council's budget adoption reading on Wednesday.
Around the same time, Lifeguards United – Austin's lifeguards union – shared that Vela has filed an amendment to the budget that would keep pool entry fees the same as they are this year.
On Wednesday, the Austin City Council is set to meet for a budget adoption reading. Members may take until Friday to approve the entire budget for Fiscal Year 2025.
