BY KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Hays city commissioners are considering raising the adult admission price by $1 at Hays Aquatic Park and Wilson Pool.

At Thursday’s city commission work session, board members from the Hays Recreation Commission asked the city for a rate increase, which would raise admission for those over 18 from $3 to $4 at HAP and $2 to $3 at Wilson.

Director of Parks Jeff Boyle said the rate increase is not about making a profit, but  hoping to close the “net loss gap” the pool has seen for years.

Superintendent of the Hays Recreation Commission  Roger Bixenman said the board’ s mission to to provide a service “as best as they can and as cheap as they can,” but eventually expenses do go up and sometimes rate increases are needed.

Bixenman said just 25 percent of pool visitors are 18 and older but the board did not want to “hurt the kids” whose families could not afford a $4 admission fee.

Commissioners are expected to rule on both requests at the city commission meeting next Thursday.