Cost of security at college and high school sporting events

CONWAY, SC (WMBF) - Universities spend thousands of dollars on security for sporting events each year.

In fact, Clemson and the University of South Carolina spend nearly half a million dollars combined of taxpayer money each year just for traffic control at football games, according to the SC Department of Public Safety.

Coastal Carolina University on the other hand spends about $11,000 on security for home football games.

CCU hires about a dozen Horry County Sheriff's Deputies to work each home game. Senior Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations Bruce Gregory said it has been that way for several years up until recently.

"We used relatively the same number of public safety and deputies throughout the years," added Gregory. "In the last three or four years is we've added the addition of a professional event staff."

Unlike at Clemson and USC, CCU pays for its security and traffic control itself through revenue generated by the athletic department.

While you will not have to pay for security at CCU, Horry County taxpayers will pay more for security at high school football games this season.

Horry County School Board Chairman Joe Deffeo said the district decided to help high school athletic departments cover more the cost of security for sporting events for the coming year.? That money will come from the district's general fund, said Deffeo.

Carolina Forest High School Principal Gaye Driggers said that will directly benefit high school athletes.

"You have to pay for transportation and the cost of officials so that way that extra money can move back to a place where our kids can have more opportunities," Driggers said.

Copyright 2013 WMBF News. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/22983292/the-cost-of-security-at-college-and-high-school-sporting-events

columbine Newton virginia tech shooting China glock 121212 Concert Columbine shooting