AIKEN --- Aiken County coaches say the cost of playing games is going up fast and they're not sure where to get the money to cover the costs.

At $45 an hour, for example, security personnel often are the highest paid workers at sporting events.

Others costs are rising, too, prompting the coaches to seek the county's help.

Last month, they asked the Aiken County School District for $500 per team to offset rising bus fuel and security costs.

But such help is doubtful.

"We don't really have a plan for that because we don't really have a funding source," Aiken's Deputy Superintendent David Caver said. "Do I think it's needed? Yes. But the money's just not there."

The problem won't ease up from Aiken Public Safety or the Aiken County Sheriff's Office any time soon, either, because gas prices will drive up the rate, coaches said.

"During football season, we average paying out $800 a night," Aiken High School Athletic Director Carey Johnson said. "But I can't argue with that price when it's chance that they put their life on the line every time they're out here."

Larger schools, such as Aiken High School, require up to eight officers for home football games.

Officers sign up for extra-duty events based on their schedule with the law enforcement agency. The sheriff's office gives school resource officers first take at school events. The charge is $45 an hour.

"The sheriff's department has done a good job for us," said Al Lown, the athletic director at Silver Bluff High School. "The thing that gets me is it was $20 (an hour) just a few years ago."

Aiken Public Safety charges time-and-a-three-quarters for services based on an officer's pay scale. Both agencies take a cut of the pay for their costs, including patrol car, uniform and insurance.

"Some they know they'll work harder (at games), the detail is not as easy as other events, but the officers enjoy the extra money," Public Safety spokesman Lt. David Turno said.

Mr. Caver said the school district didn't expect services to rise so quickly.

With each football and basketball game requiring an officer at each high school by South Carolina High School League rules, coaches said the cost would ultimately show up in the ticket price.