BOOSTER GROUPS SEEKING RELIEF OVER MILEAGE FEES

(10/18/2005)

Athletic booster groups are concerned about a Calhoun school board request asking them to pay transportation costs to games. The issue is over rapidly rising fuel costs which the county school system must bear, at least until they are reimbursed by the state. Transportation Director Donnie Pitts told the board last month that increased fuel costs are now a big problem for the county. Roger Propst, representing Calhoun Middle School Athletic Boosters, appeared before last night's board meeting, requesting relief for extra-curricular groups using bus transportation, after the board indicated they were going to charge groups 30 cents a mile. Currently, such groups pay for the cost of a bus driver. Propst contended that it would be unfair to have the groups pay the fuel charge without some mechanism where they would be reimbursed when the county gets reimbursed 90% of their fuel costs. Propst said "We do not object to the mileage fee to help the shortage, but rather to the idea that there is no mechanism for rebate when the county eventually gets 90% reimbursement." The county board is not reimbursed until at least one year later, leaving them to use funds that are currently not in the budget for gasoline. Propst proposed some solutions, but the board could not act on his request until the next meeting.

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