Members of the emergency and community services committee last week approved an increase of almost $9 per hour to rent one hour of ice time starting November 13.

The cost to rent one hour of prime ice time is $194 plus GST. After the increase, the cost will be $202 plus GST.

The cost for affiliated ice user costs per hour will increase from the current $97 to $101 plus GST, a hike of $4.43.

The non-prime ice rate will increase to $157 per hour from $151, while the Mohawk 4-Pad non-subsidized rate will be raised to $222 per hour from $215. The non-prime rate for the Mohawk 4-Pad jumps to $121 from $117.

The city is expected to raise an extra $101,000 from the increases between September and December 2008.

The higher ice rates follow a trend that has politicians looking at higher water and sewer rates, increases in various fees for services –and a potential jump in the average tax rate for 2009.

A review of the fees and rate changes for the 2008 bylaw discovered that the ice fee increases had not been approved for the 2008-09 season.

The rates, usually approved in the spring for the upcoming season, will be effective until May 31, 2009.