Rates for three city-owned golf courses could increase as officials seek to end taxpayer subsidies of more than $170,000 paid in each of the last two years.

Springfield city commissioners have debated in recent years if golf should be subsidized by taxpayers. The city spent $170,000 in 2012 and $175,000 in 2011 to help cover golf operating deficits.

The National Trail Parks and Recreation District may increase golf fees next year in hopes of making the courses self-sustaining within three years.

The parks board will discuss the possible rate increases at today’s meeting, which will be held at 5 p.m. at the district’s administrative office, 1301 Mitchell Blvd.

The park district’s three-year plan would include cutting payroll and likely would keep all three courses open in 2013.

The park district has discussed rate changes but had not finalized a plan. Fees have not been raised since 2008.

According to a document obtained by the Springfield News-Sun, greens fees for non-members may increase by $3 to $6, depending on the time of day and if the golfer walks or rides a cart. Greens fees could also increase $1 a round for season pass and season ticket holders. No decisions have been made, officials stressed.

Greens fees for non-members are currently $17 on the weekdays and $20 on the weekends for walkers, while rates for greens fees with cart is $26 and $29, respectively. The district also has specials for non-peak times on weekdays and weekends, as well as winter rates.

Castillo said the organization has worked on several different drafts of the proposal.

“Anything is on the table at this point. I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of conversation on Monday as to which direction we should go,” Castillo said.

The board will also field public comments about golf for the first time since its October meeting.

The Springfield Golf Association, which has about 100 members, is opposed to any possible rate increases. SGA president Dan Price believes it will be tough to for the parks’ courses to raise rates and be competitive, especially when other courses in Clark County, like the Elks Club, Windy Knoll and Locust Hills, can offer special rates year-round.

“I think they’re going to keep people away from the city courses,” Price said.

Castillo was unable to estimate how much revenue the increased rates could bring the district. The goal is to keep prices down for golfers but work toward making the courses self-sustaining.

“We don’t want to price ourselves out because that’s our job as a parks and recreation agency is to offer things at an affordable price for our residents,” Castillo said. “We have to be able to offer golf at an affordable price for our residents, but at the same time, we need to have the prices enough that we can cover the costs to do it.”

Castillo said the organization can’t raise prices to the point where residents who already can’t afford to play at private courses can’t play at the public courses either.

“They need somewhere in their own hometown that they can go to golf,” Castillo said.

City commissioners tentatively agreed to budget $1.1 million for park district operation at a preliminary budget meeting last month, but for the first time they asked the park district to earmark $50,000 for golf course operations. It will also receive another $175,000 from the city in 2013 for other non-golf capital projects.

In 2011, the city budgeted $1.45 million for park district operations, but poor conditions forced commissioners to approve an additional $175,000 after poor greens conditions led Snyder’s rounds to decrease by 8,500. The same thing happened this year when the city budgeted $1.1 million for the district, but approved another $170,000 for an operating deficit for total golf operations.

In 2010, the district received $1.6 million for overall operations.

The money from the 0.6 mill levy, which is used by both NTPRD and the Clark County Parks District, generates about $1.39 million per year, but can only be used for green spaces that do not generate profit. The NTPRD receives about $1 million per year from the levy.

City commission has no vote in the decision to raise fees, although commissioners Kevin O’Neill, the city’s NTPRD liaison, and Karen Duncan both said at last week’s commission meeting they believe fees should be increased.

The district is moving in the right direction toward making the courses self-sustaining, O’Neill said.

“There’s a lot of work to do,” O’Neill said. “It’s not going to be a miracle, but I think we’re on the right track to keep all three golf courses open for 2013.”

The plan, however, doesn’t mean all three golf courses will stay open. They’ll revisit the issue next year if marked improvements aren’t made next summer.

“There has to be improvement,” O’Neill said. “There has to be a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Castillo said after problems with greens and other maintenance over the last few years, the conditions have improved dramatically. She believes the renewed conditions will make the courses more competitive next year.

“It’s the most important thing about a golf course,” Castillo said. “People don’t want to go hit the ball around in dirt.”