California reduces youth sports fees

By Dawn Goodman
Staff writer
dgoodman@observer-reporter.com
California Area School Board voted unanimously Wednesday night to waive almost all fees for youth sports organizations to use district athletic facilities.
The only fees they will still have to pay pertain to insurance and security, said Superintendent Linda Mancini.
She said the organizations within the district will not have to pay for utilities this year, either. Because the football stadium is new, the district isn’t sure how much the utilities will cost, Mancini said.
She said the board will revisit whether youth organizations should pay for utilities next year.
The issue came up after the board approved a policy for facilities fees because it was building a new stadium. Under the policy, organizations not affiliated with the district must pay $750 a day for use of the stadium if they don’t sell tickets and $1,000 a day if they do. The policy didn’t preclude youth sports organizations from the fee.
Mancini recently met with parents involved with youth football to explain that it was a misunderstanding.
She talked to surrounding districts about what they charged to outside organizations without asking if they have a separate fee for youth sports. She said when she asked again about youth sports, most said they didn’t charge.
Mancini told the parents at that meeting she thought the board would change the fees for youth sports, an action that took place Wednesday.

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