Ticket prices for events at downtown Lexington’s Icehouse Amphitheater may increase.

The proposal, which underwent first reading during a town council meeting earlier this month, would add a $2 facility fee to each ticket sold for commercial events held at the amphitheater.

The fee would not apply to the Market at Icehouse, which offers free admission on Saturdays during the summer season.

Documents for the proposal define a commercial event as any event, concert, exhibition, athletic contest or performance held at the venue for which a ticket, fee or other charge is required for entry.

The $2 facility fee would be added to every ticket sold for a qualifying commercial event in addition to the base ticket price, state or local admissions taxes and any other charges.

Town council documents state, “The purpose of the fee is to support the repair, upgrade, maintenance and capital improvements of the Icehouse and related infrastructure.”

The proposed fee would be placed into a designated fund that could only be used for repairs and maintenance at the venue and would not become part of the general operating budget, according to town leaders.

Mayor Hazel Livingston said the fee would not be a tax on Lexington residents living inside town limits, adding that maintenance and upkeep costs for the Icehouse Amphitheater should not fall solely on town taxpayers, but also on those who travel from outside the town to attend events.

“A lot of attendees are not our citizens from inside town limits,” she said. “I feel like these attendees should be helping pay for the upkeep and the events that are put on at the Icehouse. This should not all fall on our residents. I strongly believe this is not a tax on our citizens. This is making it equitable to those using the facility helping pay for what our citizens have.”

Council members Gavin Smith and Will Allen said the proposed fee was “serendipitous,” as council members are also discussing funding generated by the local accommodations tax, a 3% local tax on the gross proceeds from renting accommodations to transient guests, according to the town’s website.

According to council documents, the proposed facility fee is expected to generate approximately $35,000 annually from amphitheater commercial event attendees.

Further discussion is expected at the next meeting in June.