Fun at the pool will soon be an option for all Habersham County citizens, regardless of income. Starting in January, county residents will not be required to pay admission fees for the use of the Ruby C. Fulbright Aquatic Center’s pools and gymnasiums, following a unanimous vote by the Habersham County Commission on Monday.
“With the current economic state, there are a lot of people that could benefit from utilizing our facilities,” Habersham Parks and Recreation Director Kurt Cooper told the commission at their meeting. He says removing admission fees for county residents is possible due to other funding sources.
The aquatic center brings in revenue outside of admission fees for county residents, such as fees for special events, rentals, tournaments and tournament admissions that take place in the county’s aquatic center facilities. Out-of-county admission will remain in place at $6 for admission to the pools and gyms at the aquatic center.
Schools and teams, like Piedmont University, Hurricane Swim and Habersham Schools, that utilize the aquatic center’s facilities also pay fees for their use.
In 2020 and in 2021, admission fees declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lowered numbers of visitors at the aquatic center. In 2019, the facility brought in $93,438 in admission fees, in 2020, the facility’s admission revenue decreased to $60,708, and in the 2021 fiscal year, the admission fees generated $67,514.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Commissioner Bruce Harkness said at the meeting. “A lot of people in this room may not know this, but there’s a lot of parents that have to scrape together four dollars to take their children to the pool. We’re a great county, great people, we’re blessed. I’m for it. Let’s offer our facilities to our taxpayers and their children.”
Anyone living in Habersham who has purchased passes that exceed January 1st, 2022 will be refunded a prorated check. Proof of residency will be required to use the pool and gymnasium free; residency proof includes a government-issued ID, current official document with name and address, valid driver’s license, property tax receipt or posted mail with the name of the applicant.
“With many family incomes already struggling to support daily survival needs during the pandemic, the consideration to remove the daily usage fee for Habersham County residents so that they can remain active and healthy will be beneficial to all,” an executive summary of the change to admission states.
This article has been updated with further information.
