COLCHESTER, Conn. -- The New Year has brought some new rules for those who want to use school gyms and fields in Colchester.

The school department said it wants groups to pay up front for using the fields. Dozens of organizations use the fields each year, school officials said.

Now school officials are looking for the money up front, they said, and the cost can be at least $14,000 for some, such as the Soccer Club. They said the cost to reserve the gym has also doubled.

Park and Recreation Commission Director Jason Cohen said it’s a policy to help things run more smoothly. He said the new payment plan might cut down on groups signing out facilities and not showing up.

The commission plans to hold a special meeting Jan. 14 to address the fee collection and scheduling procedures.