At the first of two 2023 Legislative Council meetings, held Tuesday, Jan. 24, a highly impactful plan to address the pay structure for high school game officials in Colorado was enacted by a strong majority vote from members of the Legislative Council. 
 
In addition to addressing Colorado’s need to improve officials’ pay, the effort is also being lauded as a way to help address the shortage being experienced in game officials across all sports.
 
The proposal, which is a 3-year gradual increase structure beginning next school year (2023-24), will place Colorado among the leaders for official’s fees among neighboring states and will make the State competitive Nationally.
 
“It was a fantastic day for our officials in Colorado with the passing of the officials’ fee structure,” Assistant Commissioner overseeing officials Mike Book said. “I can’t thank the Athletic Directors and schools enough for their support in voting to pass the increase in pay. I would also like to thank Mr. Krueger, our official’s task force, our official’s fees committee, and the Presidents of Officials for each sport as we did an incredible amount of research and discussion to produce a structure that has been a long time coming.”
 
“The passing of this new pay structure is a great way for CHSAA member schools to send an inherent message to game officials that we value them as partners in our mission to provide quality athletic and activity programs for our student-athletes across the State of Colorado,” CHSAA Commissioner Michael Krueger stated. “This is a substantial commitment from our schools, and they deserve all the credit. It is a commitment that does not come without serious financial challenges; however, the membership recognized the need and made it a priority. There is a lot of data and a substantial number of voices reflected in this effort, it is a true example of what can be accomplished when stakeholders come together around a shared goal. At the end of the day the reality is that this new pay structure makes Colorado not only competitive but places us amongst the leaders in remuneration for game officials, we are proud of that.”
 
The increases over the next three years will ultimately result in about a 48 percent total increase in pay to officials by year three. To help schools handle the increased budget demands, as well as get officials pay in each sport where it needs to be, there will be gradual annual increase across all sports, ranging from 40-60 percent per sport.
 
The largest increases over the three-year period are front-loaded in year one for immediate impact and to support the more equitable and competitive range. The first-year increases amount to right around 33 percent of the total 3-year increase.
 
In addition, new statewide mileage payments were also approved. There will be an increase from $.40 per mile to $.50 per mile in 2023-2024 for travel more than 20 miles one way, $.55 per mile in 2024-2025, and $.60 per mile in 2025-2026. In the Denver/Colorado Springs metro areas, schools will pay a $10 travel stipend. The mileage travel stipend is paid to an official for one or more assignments per day at a school for all levels. This stipend was approved in at the 2019 Legislative Council Meeting.
 
“This structure, along with the ‘You Look Good in Stripes’ campaign, is a step in the right direction to relieve some of the workload burden on our current official’s and getting back to schools playing on coveted nights,” Book added. “It is an honor to work with all these wonderful people and organizations so that referees are fairly compensated for their time and effort.”
 
Full details of the officials’ fees committee report can be found here. If you are interested in becoming an official, please fill out the official’s interest form here.