Anyone who participates in programs and activities run by Greenville Area Leisure Services Association will be paying higher user fees this year to make up a $30,000 to $40,000 budget deficit.

GALSA board members Monday approved increasing fees for Greenville residents and non-residents who sign up for any GALSA programs at Riverside Park, the Greenville Rec Center and the sports complex in West Salem Township.

The increased fees for sports complex programs are effective immediately; sign-ups begin Jan. 31. Greenville residents will now pay $10, up from $5, and non-residents will pay $30, up from $20.

New fees for programs at the park and Rec Center will be effective this summer, when a new round of activities begins. Greenville residents currently pay nothing, but they’ll be charged a $5 fee. Non-residents will pay $10, up from $5.

Board members recently asked officials from West Salem and Hempfield townships to donate money to the organization, but both requests were turned down.

The majority of GALSA’s funding comes from Greenville taxpayers. The association is also one of the leading beneficiaries of donations to the United Way of Northern Mercer County.

The board had been considering doubling fees for non-residents using the sports complex. They chose to increase fees across the board because some board members feared targeting only non-residents would lead to low program attendance.

GALSA is taking another step that it hopes will increase funding. It plans to mail flyers soliciting donations from area residents in mid-February, said Erik Bielata, GALSA’s executive director.

Board members on Monday also adopted the 2007 budget of $250,950 for general operations and $78,000 for Memorial Pool. The pool budget was approved under the condition it can be reopened if GALSA gets donations or other funding this year.