The cost of accessing various programs and services in Atikokan is likely to go up.

The town is looking at increases of 10-15%.

Fees have not increased since 2017, and town council expressed a desire earlier this year to raise them.

Chief Administrative Officer Jason Young feels the plan put forward addresses what council is looking for.

“We heard council loud and clear that we need to update the fees,” says Young.

“And that was our goal; to bring forward fees that could be implemented quite quickly.”

The proposal also calls for annual reviews, with potential increases determined by council.

Atikokan has long enjoyed some of the lowest user fees in northwestern Ontario.

Young says increasing them also takes some of the burden off taxpayers.

“I think we’re trying to create more of a user pay system so that the person’s tax dollars, less of that, are going to these facilities,” says Young.

“By increasing the user fees, we are trying to take it off the backs of taxpayers who may not necessarily use those specific recreation items.”

Final approval of the fees could come in early September.