How 673d FSS fee changes will affect you

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Omari Bernard
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDRF-RICHARSON, Alaska --  Effective May 1, the 673d Force Support Squadron will increase charges and fees for select recreational activities on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson due to limited appropriated funds.

"It's a lot of our nice-to-haves, our bowling center, ski hill and outdoor recreation," said Air Force Lt. Col. Kelly Sams, 673d Force Support Squadron commander. "There will be an adjustment to the fees, which has not occurred in well over five years."
The FSS is actively looking into adjusting costs to include consolidating similar activities, reducing unproductive hours of operation and eliminating underused programs and services.

According to the monthly Alaskan Adventurer, JBER leadership remains committed to providing quality recreation facilities and programs and prefers customers have the opportunity to pay higher fees rather than eliminate programs or services. Also, the fee adjustment is just one step that will be required to put recreation programs on the road to self-sustainability.

FSS supports the entire JBER installation and population.

"I call it non-flying life support," Sams explained. "We take care of children, family members, service members, and employees both military and civilian. If you are on JBER, we take care of you."

FSS operates with two separate streams of funding; the appropriated fund, which comes from Congress, and non-appropriated funds.

"Think of appropriated funds as operation maintenance in the flying world or civilian personnel pay," she said. "That's the appropriated fund."

Non-appropriated funds are generated through profit. For example, services and equipment rentals from the golf course or equipment rentals from outdoor recreation.
"We have seen a significant reduction in our appropriated funds for our enterprise and our activities," Sams said. "To offset this, things that were covered by appropriated funds are now covered by non-appropriated funds."

There is ample data to support the adjustment of costs for FSS and Morale and Welfare Recreation programs.

"There has been a cost of living-increase-every year," Sams said. "As military members, we are paid the cost of living increase. However, the fees have not been adjusted in well over five years, even during the joint-basing process."

The adjustments are based on maintenance, equipment and operational costs for the programs affected.

"I can assure you that we are not inflating costs to increase our fund," she explained. "We are adjusting the costs so we can continue to offer the programs and rental items."
Adjustments will be based on services that are more frequently used.

"We need our consumers to continue to utilize the programs that they like the most," Sams said. "It will show us on our profit lines - if we need to further reduce - where to start first. That would be the underutilized offers and programs."

Currently, the FSS has been operating at a loss on non-appropriated funds.

"If we continue to operate at a loss in our non-appropriated funds, we may have to eliminate programs that are used and mean a lot to folks," Sams explained. "We are adjusting the fees to cover our operating costs and to keep us solvent."

A list of programs that have already adjusted prices can be found in the monthly Alaskan Adventurer and include:

RV storage
Family Camp
Hillberg Ski Area
Arctic Oasis Community
Outdoor Recreation Equipment Rental

Child development centers and the auto hobby shop will not be affected by the adjustment; only recreational activities.

The overall goal of the FSS and MWR fee adjustments are to continue to be able to offer diverse services and programs for JBER consumers.

"We have a myriad of programs that hit all different assets of our community," Sams said. "From our single service members to our most junior family members. We want to continue to offer that variety. Even with planned adjustments to fees and charges, the costs to our valued customers remain considerably lower than rates found in the local community," she continued. "Please continue to utilize the programs important to you and your family."