Casper aims to minimize subsidies with new aquatics business plan

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CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council is considering a comprehensive five-year business plan to overhaul its aquatics operations. The objective is to minimize the dependency on the general fund for subsidies.

As a result of the 2021–2023 City Council Goals, a deep dive was mandated into the city’s recreational operations, focusing on diminishing the general fund subsidy. On Oct. 11, 2022, performance data from the aquatics fund was laid out before the City Council.

This presentation, encompassing FY22 budget data and FY23 budget projections, laid emphasis on potential rate models. The council was urged to greenlight several strategies aimed at improving pool operations’ subsidy structure.

The City Council appeared in favor of the strategies recommended by the staff. Consequently, the latter delved deeper into the feasibility of these proposals. The aim was threefold: dismiss unviable strategies, plan the execution of long-term strategies and jumpstart immediate strategies utilizing existing resources.

Currently, in alignment with the directives of the 2021–2023 City Council Goals and the 2023–2025 goals, staff are vying for the endorsement of the updated Aquatics business plan. This plan will detail each strategy and its potential effect on operational subsidies.

Key strategies under consideration include:

  • Purchasing backup equipment to reduce down time/closures
  • Refining open swim hours at outdoor pools
  • Maximizing swim lessons, including expanding outdoor pools
  • Creating and hosting new events
  • Eliminating credit card fees
  • Securing sponsorships and naming rights for facilities
  • Increasing pass sales through marketing
  • Increasing swim lesson participation through marketing
  • Increasing rentals through marketing
  • Evaluating and increasing Iesson rates
  • Evaluating and increasing admission and pass rates
  • Adding/modifying amenities at various pools

Due to ongoing and extensive renovations at City Hall, the City Council will meet in The Lyric, 230 W. Yellowstone Highway, at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, but there is no scheduled time for public comment during a work session. Those interested can watch a video of the meeting on the City of Casper YouTube channel.

The memo is available below.

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