St. Cloud approves Little League agreement amid fee concerns from parents
Paents push back on proposed Little League fee hike
Parents in St. Cloud are raising concerns over a proposed increase in Little League fees that could disproportionately affect non-resident players.
ST. CLOUD, Fla. - The St. Cloud City Council approved a one-year facility use agreement with the local Little League, setting team fees at $150 and adding a $25 seasonal charge for non-city residents.
Fees have been $5 per player since 2015, regardless of residency.
The council also waived fees for the Challenger League, which serves athletes with special needs.
Local perspective:
Parents had raised concerns over the increase, believing the hike would disproportionately affect non-resident players.
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"I feel like they could do some car washes and things like that, but that's a lot of money, and it's already expensive when you have to pay for things like the equipment and everything like that," said parent Kathleen Oubre.
City officials said the increase would help cover maintenance and services at new baseball fields.
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The city wrote in a statement, "The increase will help offset the cost of maintenance and services. In the spring of 2025, all parks and recreation fees were evaluated and adjusted, with consideration made to keep these services affordable to residents."
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the City of St. Cloud and the parents of Little League players.