A city councillor from the Civic Coalition commented on an article on istotne.pl: Horror pricing. Parents devastated by the fees for classes at BOK – MCC
Councillor’s comment
The issue of fee increases at BOK–MCC is causing strong emotions, and it is not difficult to understand why. For many families, an increase of PLN 60 per month for one child is not a symbolic change but a real burden on the household budget, especially when two or three children take part in the classes. Over the course of a year, this becomes a significant amount. It is also difficult not to understand the sense of injustice when children practise in the same groups, perform together at city events, and their parents pay such different rates.
On the other hand, it must be said fairly that Bolesławiec Cultural Centre is a municipal institution financed from the city budget, that is, from the taxes paid by Bolesławiec residents. In many local governments, there is a principle that residents who pay their personal income tax here receive certain preferences, whether in public transport, nurseries or cultural offerings. Differentiating fees in itself is therefore not something exceptional.
The problem, however, seems to be the scale of the difference. An increase of PLN 2 for holders of the Resident Card and, at the same time, an increase of PLN 60 for children from outside the city is a very large disparity. In practice, this creates a clear division which, in the local community, may be perceived as dividing children into “better” and “worse”, even if that was not the intention.
It is also worth remembering that Bolesławiec and the neighbouring municipality function as one organism. Many families from nearby towns work in the city, shop here and attend cultural events, while their children represent Bolesławiec during City Days or the Ceramics Festival. They feel part of this community, even if they formally live outside the administrative boundaries.
Perhaps, instead of a sharp division, it would be worth considering intermediate solutions: a smaller difference in fees, a discount system for siblings, or reaching an agreement between the city and the municipality on co-financing classes for children from outside the city. Such an approach could reduce tensions and show that what matters to us above all is the children and the community, not administrative boundaries.
The most important thing is not to lose mutual respect in this discussion—both for parents who are concerned about their household budgets and for the local government, which is responsible for the city’s finances. Because this matter is not about spreadsheets, budget categories or administrative lines on a map.
It is about children who dance together, practise together and go on stage together. They do not see city boundaries; they see friends and their passion. And their welfare should be the most important thing in this discussion.
Urszula Magryś – Councillor of the Bolesławiec City Council (Civic Coalition)