Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board pauses new facility‑rental rates and asks policy committee for review
Summary
After staff proposed shifting from flat daily rental fees to an hourly structure and updating processes, board members raised concerns the new hourly rates could be unaffordable for local organizations; the board agreed to keep current posted prices and move the fee policy to the policy committee for review in July while honoring existing contracts.
The Hoke County Board of Education agreed June 9 to pause implementation of a newly proposed electronic facility‑rental policy and fee schedule after board members questioned the move from flat daily rates to higher hourly fees.
Staff described a new web‑based rental request process that would require certificate of insurance, allow principals and finance staff to review requests, and charge hourly rates that reflect custodial and SRO staffing plus utilities. The proposal shifts many rentals from a per‑day fee to an hourly rate and consolidates approvals at the central office to avoid missed paperwork and unpaid custodial/SRO costs.
Several board members said the proposed rates (examples discussed in the presentation included auditorium or multipurpose space fees in the $75–$100 per hour range) were too high for the district’s communities and risked limiting access for funerals and other community events. A board member said, "I think that's just a little too steep for the community in which we live." Other members noted rising utility costs and the district’s need to avoid subsidizing rentals at a loss.
The board directed staff to take the draft rates and supporting research to the policy committee in July. In the meantime the board voted to keep the previously posted prices active until the committee returns a recommendation and agreed to honor existing long‑standing contracts (for example, longstanding church users) so those groups aren’t displaced while the policy is reviewed. Staff also removed the draft schedule from the website pending the policy committee’s review.
Next steps: policy committee will review fee comparisons, utility assumptions and proposed hourly rates and return recommended language and fee structure to the full board.
