Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence officials announced fee increases and other changes this week to try to combat an expected $197,000 budget shortfall.

“It’s a real challenge because you’re trying to balance a budget, and at the same time making sure that you’re providing services for all the kids,” Executive Director Janet Murphy said. “And at the same time, being very aware that the budgets for people at home are challenging and getting tighter.”

Board members made decisions based on expected reductions in funding from the state and the city. On about a $1.2 million budget, the club serves about 1,200 children daily at its main site, 1520 Haskell Ave., and nine other sites at schools across the city.

The club employs 15 full-time staff members with 80 part-time employees, who are mostly college students. The budget adjustments for now will not affect staffing levels because the organization aims to serve the same number of students, Murphy said. “The kids need us more than ever right now, and yet we have to at the same time make sure that we are balancing our budget and doing the best we can,” she said.

The Boys and Girls Club also relies on fundraising and fees for its revenue.

The board has opted to increase fees during the 2009-2010 school year from $10 per week per child to $20. The club will continue to offer scholarships to low-income families. Summer program fees will also increase to $40 per child per week from $30.

Also, starting April 1, the main site in eastern Lawrence will close at 6 p.m. — when the nine after-school sites normally close — instead of 7 p.m. This change will likely affect about 35 to 40 children, Murphy said.

Board members also expect to lose state grant funds for the West Junior High School site, and it likely will not return in the fall. Instead, the club will look to work with the school district to find a site to serve junior high students from all four schools, Murphy said.