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Preston board approves higher gate and pay-to-play fees after athletics budget gap
Summary
Trustees approved modest increases to athletic gate fees and pay-to-play charges after staff said rising official and transportation costs pushed the athletics program over budget; public commenters urged family rates and transparency.
Trustees for Preston Joint School District voted Oct. 16 to increase several student athletic fees and gate charges after staff reported the program ran over budget last year.
Ben Szabo presented an athletics cost breakdown showing coaches’ stipends, transportation and game-management costs contributed to a roughly $510,000 athletics-related cost pool, with high-school gates totaling about $61,662 annually. He told the board the district will add card readers at gates but cautioned these sales “will only make $6.60,” underscoring the narrow margin available to close the shortfall.
The board heard public comment before the vote. “I would prefer the fee not to increase but understood why,” said Tyrell Simpson during the hearing. Other speakers asked for more transparency and a family rate; TJ Burbank and Brent Knapp urged the board to weigh access for families when setting fees.
Trustee Chris Jones moved to approve the fee increases; Geniel Lyons seconded the motion, and the measure carried unanimously among trustees present. The district’s presentations showed the increases were intended to cover rising official fees, transportation, and game-management costs rather than expand programming.
District staff said the increases are one of several steps — including gate charges, concessions and fundraising — intended to stabilize athletics accounts. The board asked administration to return with more details on family pass options and an analysis of concessions and gate revenue under the new policy.
