Starting today, Cape Coral residents will now be charged $20 to $40 for reserving city park pavilions, picnic shelters and gazebos as part of a new fee to raise revenue in a year when home values have dropped 26 percent, reducing the city’s coffers.

Today also marks the beginning of a new fiscal year, and the city’s budget of $490 million is 20 percent lower than last year’s amended budget of $604 million.

“I don’t recall if we’ve ever had a fee for it,” city spokesperson Connie Barron said of the charges to use park pavilions and shelters. “This was something new to help increase some revenue.”

The fee for non-residents ranges from $40 to $80.

The new fees are only for reservations, and residents can still use unreserved park facilities on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations should be made one week in advance.

Cape parks with available facilities include:

— BMX Park

— Burton Park

— Camelot Park

— Cape Coral Sports Complex

— Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve

— Four Freedoms Park

— Guiffrida Park

— Jaycee Park

— Jim Jeffers Park

— Joe Stonis Park

— Koza/Saladino Park

— Lake Kennedy Park

— Paul Sanborn Park

— Saratoga Lake Park

— Storm Football Complex

— Verdow Park

— Veterans Park

To make a reservation or for additional information, contact the city Parks and Recreation Department at 573-3128.