Tolland School Board approves energy surcharge for facility rentals, effective July 1

The Tolland School Board voted on March 11 to accept changes to Policy 10.10, adding an energy surcharge to facility rental fees to help offset rising utility costs.

Superintendent Dr. Willett (speaker 2) framed the change as a modest adjustment to recover energy usage for community and outside events. He told the board the district ‘‘looked at overall rates and overall usage and then made a per cost per hour per section’’ to compute a surcharge. He estimated the surcharge program could net the district roughly $7,000 to $10,000 annually if facility utilization is high.

Board members debated whether to also add a materials surcharge (for items such as cleaning supplies or salt) but agreed that quantifying material use would be difficult and could dissuade users; they supported starting with an energy surcharge and revisiting other fees later. Several members asked staff to compare neighboring towns’ rates before future changes; one board member said a seasonal fee for winter months might be an alternative to itemized material surcharges.

Motion and vote: The board moved the policy from first read to board action and then approved the motion to accept the changes to Policy 10.10 (use of facilities). The roll-call-style votes recorded the following 'Aye' responses when called: Jaden, Brian, Bill, Dana, Elaine, Joelle and Mackenzie. The chair declared the motion passed. Board discussion noted the surcharge would take effect with the next fiscal year: July 1.

Why this matters: The change shifts a modest portion of facility operating costs onto event organizers rather than general district funding; the board emphasized balancing cost recovery with community access.

What comes next: Board members asked staff to return with comparative data from nearby districts and to refine any seasonal adjustments; the district will implement the energy surcharge as part of next year’s fee schedule unless further board action modifies the plan.