The Arlington Heights Park District is hiking some of its program fees to keep up with program costs, which are largely supported by user fees.

Most programs — from swimming lessons to gymnastics to ballet — will see small increase, averaging between 1 and 4 percent, starting May 1.

The park district determines the cost for its programs every year based on direct costs, like instructors, and indirect costs, such as maintaining fields for a soccer program.

Those traditionally go up every year, so the park district usually increases fees accordingly.

“Our philosophy has been to try to minimize fee increases to keep things as low as possible,” said Jim Glueckert, director of recreational facilities and services.

Programming at the park district is funded by 70 percent user fees and 30 percent taxes, Glueckert said.

While most of the fee increases will cost families a few dollars more, a few will see bigger increases.

Drama classes saw the largest increase,  moving prices up from $57 or $63 to $90.

Swim passes will increase on average about $3 each — taking an annual swim pass from $217 to $222 and upping summer passes from $188.50 to $193.50 for Arlington Heights families. Daily admissions will increase by a quarter.

Swim classes are increasing across the board, up to 6.1 percent — generally tacking on a few dollars to each swim level.

Senior fitness and art programs will increase, but dance classes remained steady.

Children At Play, the park district’s joint venture with local school districts providing before- and after-school day care will not increase this year and has not increased since the 2007-08 school year.

Gymnastics costs, on the other hand, dropped significantly, from $178 to $88.