MUSD should recoup facilities costs

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More than half of the 267 respondents to this week’s online poll question, “How much should MUSD charge to rent its facilities to churches and other community organizations?” said the district should charge an amount at least equal to its costs or its costs plus a little more.

Ninety-six, or 36 percent, said the Maricopa Unified School District should charge an amount equal to its costs while 66, or 22 percent, answered MUSD should charge its costs and a little more.

Fifty-eight, or 22 percent, said facility-users should pay market rate.

Twenty-six people, or 10 percent of those voting, said the district should offer facilities for free, while 21, or 8 percent, said the district should not rent facilities.

The district currently charges $2 an hour for classrooms but has proposed raising the fees to $20 an hour. Representatives from several local churches told school board members at the June 13 meeting the fee increase would be crippling and force them to look for other places to hold church services and classes.

To see the proposed fees and a comparison with other districts search for pages 69 through 77 in the school board’s June 13 agenda packet.

To see one local pastor’s take on the proposed increase, click here