Patrons of the John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool can expect increased prices for certain programs beginning May 1.

At the board of commissioners’ monthly meeting Thursday evening, Commissioner Wendy Shingleton made a motion to increase the program rates for swim school, private swim lessons, private pool parties and open swim pool parties.

The motion passed in a three-to-one vote, with Commissioner Shane Hoffmire dissenting.

The decision was made after more than a year of discussions centering upon the notion that district programs should be self-sustaining in order to improve the financial stability of the district.

In December 2015, commissioners voted to increase the prices of such things as adult admission, lockers, punch cards and classes like water aerobics.

This spring, the price of swim school will rise from $40 for eight half-hour sessions to $48 for eight half-hour sessions; cost of private lessons will increase from $12.50 per half-hour to $22 per half-hour.

According to Commissioner Donna Sue Holly, a program review subcommittee, created late last year, calculated that each half-hour private swim lesson costs the district $27. At $22 per half-hour, the district will still be losing money, she said.

To that end, these changes will be reevaluated later this year and may be increased once again in January 2017.

Executive Director Steve McCaslin commented that, in Virginia, he paid $36 per half-hour private swim lesson for his children.

Though Holly said she and others would be willing to see the district take a loss on swim school classes due to the importance of children learning water safety and swimming skills, she contended that private lessons should pay for themselves.

“If you want the limo, pay for the limo. There is a bus available,” Holly said in regard to the increase in prices of private lessons.

Holly and others contended that the price of these and other programs has long been disproportionately inexpensive compared to other area pools.

“It’s one of those things, they just weren’t increasing prices over the last decade to keep up with costs,” said Holly.

The cost for swim school and private lessons currently costs out-of-district patrons an additional 10 percent, which will remain the same.

Scholarships will still be available for families who qualify for financial assistance.

The price of rentals is also increasing.

Open swim pool parties, which include use of the pool and viewing room for up to 25 people, will increase in price from $100 to $130.

In January 2017, that price may increase to $150, at which point Holly said all costs to the district would be recovered.

The cost of a private swim party, or renting out the entire pool in addition to the viewing room, will increase from a cost of $150 to $225, with the possibility of an additional $50 increase in January.

If patrons wish to rent the viewing room alone, the cost will be $15 an hour, a price which was not previously specified.

The rental costs of Clover Valley Baseball Field will remain the same.

Commissioner Hoffmire sent an email Friday morning expressing his disappointment with the decision, noting that it is a “decision that will haunt.”

Hoffmire stated that he “vehemently” opposes the decision, believing that it will dissuade potential pool users from taking part in programs or renting space.

Hoffmire continued by stating that, rather than increasing prices, the pool should increase offerings with such additions as a splash pad or water slide. Doing otherwise, he said, “will do nothing but exacerbate budget shortfalls.”

Holly said that raising prices may be a precarious effort, as there is a “fine line” between raising prices and a potential drop in attendance.

However, she said, the prices to be implemented are in fact still quite low.

“We’re bringing prices up to where we are not bleeding money,” she said.

“We want programs to pay for themselves as much as possible.”