Peabody school board eyes surcharge to property renters

PEABODY – Rising energy costs may result in a surcharge for renters looking to use the city’s school facilities.School Committee members have approved the first reading of a motion made by Beverley Ann Griffin Dunne of the Quality and Standards subcommittee. The motion would add a $25 energy surcharge onto classroom rental fees and a $75 energy surcharge for use of any other facility.Dunne reported that Peabody, in general, offers use of their buildings at a cost $100 lower than surrounding communities. She said the change would keep Peabody below other cities and towns, but at the same time, cover the cost of energy to light and heat the building in use.”Some people thought we should raise the fees because they hadn’t been raised in over two years,” said Dunne. “But others didn’t because they felt in this economy, things are difficult. We knew that our costs had been rising, so the fairest thing to do was put on an energy surcharge.”Dunne said the subcommittee didn’t want to raise the fees, so they opted for the surcharges to give them some latitude. If the cost of energy goes down, so will the surcharges. Also, the School Committee will eliminate the surcharge altogether for those granted a rental fee waiver.Rental fees currently run from $50-$200, varying on the building. Auditorium rentals cost $100 at the elementary schools, $125 at the Higgins Middle School, and $140 at the high school. To rent the gymnasium, users would have to pay $100 at an elementary school, $150 at the middle school, and $175 at the high school. Classrooms at any building are $50. All prices are based on one use per day (until 4 p.m.) or evening (after 4 p.m.).”Knowing that energy costs are going sky high, it did seem necessary,” Dunne said.The School Committee will revisit the motion at their next meeting in August. If approved, the surcharges will go into effect immediately.