Members of the emergency and community services committee approved last week almost a $9 per hour extra cost to rent one-hour of ice time starting Nov. 13.

To rent one hour of prime ice time is $194 plus GST. After next week the cost to rent one hour of prime ice time 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.

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

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

The higher ice rates follow a trend from politicians that has them 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 rates 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.