Gerald Skoning’s June 8 commentary regarding the proposed differentiated fee structure at the Shedd Aquarium mixes apples and oranges. The misunderstanding in the letter’s argument is that it references institutions that do not receive public funds. Specifically, some of the institutions mentioned are not on public land and do not receive local property tax dollars, while the Shedd Aquarium and the other eight Chicago “museums in the park” are on public land and do receive some property tax support. From the Civic Federation’s point of view, mentioning these institutions and others is inappropriate for the purpose of this particular public policy discussion.
Given the confusion of the issue, the Civic Federation feels it necessary to reiterate its position. Each time during the past few years that one of the museums in the park has come to the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners requesting a fee increase, the Civic Federation has questioned the access that Chicagoans have to institutions supported with local property tax dollars and on public land. In addition, the Civic Federation called for a differentiated fee structure so that Chicagoans were not paying twice, once on their property tax bills and again at the door of the aquarium.
The Shedd Aquarium is once again asking the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners for a fee increase. The Civic Federation has no opinion at this time as to the fairness of the fee increase. The cost of entry issue is between the Shedd and its public. But the Civic Federation does believe that the fee increase proposal does contain much needed policy changes. The proposal increases the number of public free days and creates a differentiated fee structure lessening the cost for Chicagoans. The Civic Federation encourages the other institutions in the museums in the park coalition to follow in step behind the Shedd and increase the access options available to Chicagoans.
