Board approves increased fees for school resource officers at extracurricular events

The Washington County Board of Education approved increases to the hourly charge for School Resource Officers (SROs) assigned to extracurricular events. The sheriff’s office proposed raising the district’s cost for officers; the board approved the new schedule.

Under the approved arrangement, the proposed $50 per hour rate (four-hour minimum) applies generally; nonprofits and the district will be charged $35 per hour with the same four-hour minimum. The board noted the sheriff’s office applies the same pricing to other community events and that the change represents the sheriff’s office cost across the board.

Why it matters: Increases to SRO fees affect school budgets, athletic groups and outside organizations that host events requiring security officers. Board members asked how incremental costs would affect ticket pricing and athletic budgets and whether gate revenue or boosters can absorb the change.

Details: Board members discussed that many events run at low gate revenue (for example, some school sporting events) and that the district or booster groups sometimes subsidize SRO costs. Staff said the sheriff charges the same rate for all entities and that the increased fee will apply uniformly. The board approved the fee schedule and asked staff to consider how schools should account for the higher cost at small events.

Next steps: Staff will implement the new fee schedule and advise athletic departments and event organizers about the change so they can plan budgeting and ticket pricing accordingly.