Effects of the state's budget crisis are becoming evident.

The Parks and Recreation Board approved a change in pool fees and hours for the coming summer at its meeting Wednesday night.

The price of a summer season pass will go from $10 last year to $20 this year. Swimming lessons will see the same increase from $10 to $20.

The daily fee will also be changed. It will go from $2 for the afternoon session to $3.

The evening session will remain $2, however, the hours will be shorter.

This summer's pool hours will be from 1 to 5 p.m. for the afternoon and 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. for the evening session.

The tot-lot pool will also see a change. Children under 2 years old can still enter for free, but their parents will have to pay to enter.

There won't be any lap swim in the evenings. The board approved eliminating it so an extra swimming lesson time could be added.

"(Swimming lessons) generate a little more revenue," Park and Recreation Director Dennis Maschka said. "The people that do (lap swim) like it, but there's not very many people that do it."

The board had previously considered changing the system for summer passes.

They discussed using a ticket book with one ticket used each visit rather than using the current tag system, but they decided there were enough changes already.

"We thought we could account for the same thing and keep the system with tags," he said. "We think it will be simpler, smoother, and everyone will understand it."

Maschka told board members that the state budget was not yet final, and citizen's input could make a difference as to how much the city budgets would be cut.

He encouraged the board members to contact legislators and let them know what they think about dealing with the budget.

"You, as citizens, can certainly e-mail them," he said. "You need to talk to them. Let them know what you're thinking."

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by email at matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com