Five of the nine school districts that serve Butler County charge fees for students to participate in athletics. Some also charge students to participate in other extra-curricular activities and most charge for student parking permits.

With tight budgets and cuts in state funding, numerous school districts in Butler County have turned to imposing student activity fees and a “pay to play” model for sports.

Of the school district serving Butler County, five charge athletic fees and four do not. The fee amounts and structure vary from district to district.

The A-C Valley, Slippery Rock, Karns City and Freeport districts do not charge athletic fees.

The Butler School Board at its meeting Monday, can vote on increasing its athletic fee from $60 to $75.

The board is also considering instituting a fee for other extra-curricular activities that incur costs including marching band, the Sequinettes and yearbook, though that change is not yet being brought for a vote, School Board President Nina Teff said.

Butler Athletic Director Bill Mylan said that athletic participation has not been affected by the fee, which is now in its second year.

The fee is paid once per student, per year, meaning a three-athlete student does not have to pay three times. There is also a cap of $240 per family and families with financial troubles can request a discount or waiver.

Mylan said one selling point for the fee at Butler is that the money so far has been accounted for and used specifically for one-time expenses at the discretion of the school board.

“It makes it a little easier to swallow, when people know that somehow, someway this will benefit their kids,” Mylan said.

An example of this was last year when the district replaced an aging golf cart with a Gator, a utility vehicle that can be used by the district's athletic trainers to transport injured athletes.

The South Butler County School District charges a $50 fee per student per each sport that they participate in with a cap of $150 per family.

The school board enacted the fees with a vote in 2015, though it was discussed and voted down in 2013.

South Butler also has a $25 fee and $75 cap per family for nonathletic clubs and activities.

Participants in the National School Lunch Program are exempt from the fees and families experiencing financial hardship may also apply for a waiver.

The revenue, estimated at $50,000 per year, goes into the district's general fund.

Athletic Director Kurt Reiser said the revenue has helped defray athletics costs such as new uniforms.

“I do not believe it has deterred our students from participating,” he said.