Stafford's school district has received nearly $80,000 in discounted venue rentals over five years. The Stafford Centre Committee takes up the fee arrangement Monday, Sept. 14.
The committee meets at noon at the Stafford Centre, 10505 Cash Road, to discuss setting a fee policy for Stafford Municipal School District (SMSD) events held at the city-owned venue. The item has appeared on at least four prior agendas since April 2025 without action.
A co-sponsorship financial summary in the Sept. 14 agenda packet shows SMSD paid $11,777 against $91,462 in total rental value from October 2021 through September 2026. That amounts to a $79,685 discount across five fiscal years.
In the current fiscal year alone, SMSD events at the 1,154-seat performing arts theater and convention center carried $24,200 in rental value. The district paid $5,800. Those events included two band concerts, a staff awards ceremony and a convocation.
The venue's out-of-pocket cost for a single theater performance day is $3,526.70, covering $1,000 in utilities, $700 in cleaning and $1,826.70 in labor.
The standard rental fee is $5,100.
Director of Recreation Susan Ricks told the committee in April 2025 that SMSD "solely pays a $250.00 changeover fee, when applicable" for weekday use of the separate Stafford Civic Center. Staff recommended at that meeting that SMSD pay full cleaning fees, staff time and utilities at the Stafford Centre. The committee raised the Civic Center changeover fee to $300 but took no action on a Stafford Centre fee policy.
Vice Chair Alice Chen requested at the committee's July 13 meeting that staff compile data on the number of SMSD events held at the Stafford Centre. Chairperson Wen Guerra requested legal guidance on nonprofit policies.
Beyond the SMSD fee question, the committee's 16-item agenda includes:
- A proposed refund policy for nonprofit organizations, based on a July 30 staff memo from FMsquared President Bryan Blaum. FMsquared LLC manages the Stafford Centre under contract.
- Hiring an event planner for the city's 2027 Independence Day celebration.
- Leadership elections for committee chairperson and vice chair.
- A discussion of repairs at the Stafford Civic Center, where an attendee at a July 23 event reported multiple roof leaks during a storm. The attendee described the entire left balcony as soaked and unusable.
Residents can address the committee during the public comments portion of the meeting. Accessibility accommodations require 48 hours' notice through the City Secretary's Office at (281) 261-3900.
