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FY 2010 ATHLETICS-RELATED FEE INCREASES

Athletic Services Fee and Budget Update – April 20, 2009

This morning, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors “marked up” the Fiscal Year 2010 budget, effectively deciding what the FY 2010 budget would be. The Board is scheduled to vote to formally adopt the budget at its meeting next Monday, April 27. The marked-up budget proposal includes:

• no change to the athletic services application fee, which would remain at $5.50 per person per team per season for group or individual use or $15 per team for tournaments or $50 per facility for one-time uses;
  
• an increase in the adult non-county fee to $30 per person per team per season; and
  
• the implementation of a youth non-county fee of $30 per person per team per season.

The budget presented today also includes funding to restore most of the proposed athletic services cuts and cost increases, including:

• the Youth Sports Scholarship Program (restores funding and increases funding by 50%),
  
• monitoring costs for the Walk-On Prevention Program,
  
• contract management and coordination for school field maintenance,
  
• porta-jon placement at park sites,
  
• park field maintenance, and
  
• additional General Fund support that had been proposed to be cut.

The marked-up budget proposal eliminates funding for:

• the Youth Sports Officials Subsidy Program and
  
• $60,000 in non-monitoring costs associated with the Walk-On Prevention Program.

The marked-up budget proposal does not include funding for:

• synthetic turf field replacement and
  
• increased custodial costs. Since the budget was originally proposed, Fairfax County Public Schools informed the county that these fees will not be increasing. Therefore, the additional funding is not necessary.

For more information on the cuts and cost increases that were originally proposed, please see the Frequently Asked Questions section below.

Again, the budget will be adopted by the Board of Supervisors on Monday, April 27. Any fee increases that are adopted would go into effect with the Fall 2009 season. CRS will be providing additional information about fees and fee collection processes after the budget is adopted. If you have any questions, please contact the Athletic Services Division at AthleticServices@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-324-5533, TTY 711.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why are athletics-related fee increases necessary?

A: Fairfax County is facing a projected budget deficit of $648 million for FY 2010.  Fee increases that support specific programs and services help address this projected deficit through reducing the amount of county general fund support provided to athletics-related programs and services.  This approach is an alternative to reducing or eliminating services.

 

Q: What is the current athletics-related fee structure?

A: Athletic Services customers typically pay three types of fees:

1. 1. Application Fee ($5.50 per participant per team per season or $15 per team for tournaments or $50 per facility for one-time use) – The revenue from the application fee (approximately $1.1 million per year) is directed into three areas:
       
      1.     Synthetic turf field development – supports the development of synthetic turf playing surfaces, including four new surfaces since its creation in FY 2006.
      2.     School diamond field expanded maintenance program – supports an expanded level of maintenance on FCPS diamond fields heavily utilized by the community
      3.     Gym custodial fee support – supports the provision of custodians for sports organizations utilizing FCPS gyms during their primary scheduling season.
          
   2. Non-County Fee ($20 per adult non-county resident per team per season) – The revenue from the non-county fee goes into the county General Fund to support athletics-related program and services.
       
   3. Custodial Fee ($32 per hour for all weekend use of FCPS gyms) – The revenue from the custodial fee goes into the county General Fund to support provision of custodians for the use of FCPS gyms on the weekends.

 

Q: What is the proposed athletics-related fee structure in the FY 2010 Advertised Budget?

A: Athletic Services customers would realize fee increases or implementation in the following areas:

1. 1. Application Fee - $13 per participant per team per season or $35 per team for tournaments or $120 per facility for one-time use
   2. Non-County Fee – adult - $30 per adult non-county resident per team per season.
   3. Non-County Fee – youth - implement a $30 per youth non-county resident per team per season

 

Q: How much revenue is expected to be generated in the proposed fee increases and what specifically will it support?

A: The proposed Application Fee increase will generate an additional $1.45 million in revenue and the proposed increase/implementation of the adult/youth non-county fee will generate an additional $115,000.  The total increase of $1.565 million is proposed to be used as follows:

1. 1. Restore reductions proposed as part of the FY 2010 Advertised Budget process ($877,652).  These reductions total 15 percent of the operating budget for county athletics-related programs and services.  The specific reductions include the elimination of the Youth Sports Scholarship Program ($100,000), the elimination of the Youth Sports Officials Subsidy ($195,000), a reduction in the Athletic Field Walk-On Prevention Program ($125,000), the elimination of centralized contract management of FCPS athletic field maintenance programs ($84,522), the elimination of Porta-Jon service to athletic fields at up to 73 park facilities ($40,000), and the remaining balance of required 15 percent reduction proposed to be cut from the General Fund support for existing athletics-related programs/services ($333,130).
       
   2. Increases necessary to maintain current service levels ($294,616).  These increases include a increase in FCPA “park" athletic field maintenance budget that has been relatively flat despite increasing utilities and staff costs as well as added lighting and irrigation systems ($219,616) and an increase in FCPS custodial fee rates impacting the county’s total support for the provision of school custodians in gymnasiums ($75,000).
       
   3. Required cost increases necessary to meet new or expanding demands ($350,000).  These increases include an increase in the Youth Sports Scholarship program due to increasing demand for financial assistance from low-income and economically disadvantaged youth seeking opportunities for participate in sports activities ($50,000) and an increase to help establish a Turf Field Replacement Fund to begin planning for long-term replacement of existing synthetic turf field playing surfaces ($300,000).

 

Q: When would the new fees go into effect?

A: If approved, the new fees will be effective with the Fall 2009 scheduling season.

 

Q: How can I learn more about these proposed fee increases?

A: CRS and the Park Authority will be hosting public information sessions to explain and answer questions regarding the proposed athletic services cuts and fees.  You do not need to register in advance to attend one of the sessions.  The sessions have been set for:

• • • Monday 3/9, 7:00 pm, South County Government Center – room 325, 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria
    • Monday, 3/16, 7:00 pm, Stuart High School – Little Theatre, 3301 Peace Valley Lane, Falls Church
    • Tuesday, 3/17, 6:30 pm, Herndon Senior Center, 873 Grace Street, Herndon
    • Wednesday, 3/18, 7:00 pm, Pennino Building – room 206, 12011 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax

 

In addition, more information on the proposed county budget can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/budget.

CRS and Park Authority staff may be available to meet with your organization.  Please contact Jesse Ellis at 703-324-5704 or athleticservices@fairfaxcounty.gov for more information.

 

Q: How can I find out more about the budget approval process?

A: The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote to approve the county budget on April 27.  For more information on the proposed budget, including the process for providing your comments on the budget, please visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/budget.