Hampton staff recommend modest fee increases for before/after school care to reduce subsidies

Program leaders told the council the school‑age program (SAP) runs 24 school sites, serves about 1,300 children and has not raised rates since 2012. Dr. Shaniqua Hayden said the program has required roughly $500,000 in subsidized operating support in recent years; staff presented three options that would begin recovering direct and indirect costs without eliminating financial assistance for families.

"We are the proposed fee increase would start and just start to establish the recovering of direct costs..." Dr. Hayden said as she reviewed the options. Staff said a 10% fee bump would generate about $161k, a 20% increase about $322k and a 30% increase about $482k for FY27, and noted scholarships based on federal poverty guidelines would continue for families who need support. Council members generally favored a phased approach and asked staff to return with sliding‑scale or targeted assistance so families on tight budgets are not priced out.