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Anytime there is mention of a fee increase, the first response is to get upset and demand that costs stay the same.
Not only is this unrealistic, it goes against the nature of higher education and reasonable thought.
Before everyone gets upset about changes to the prices of parking permits and lot structures, let’s look at some comparisons.
A 2007-2008 blue/magenta/silver permit at UI is $59. The equivalent permit at Washington State is $98.25 and $92 at Boise State.
On the upper end, the current UI gold permit is $292. BSU’s employee equivalent is $296 and its student equivalent is $251. At WSU, the similar crimson permit is $259.50. WSU and BSU offer a similar permit to the proposed platinum permit that costs $513 and $589, respectively.
The proposed changes to current permits fall in line with changes at other universities. Parking costs are not going down anywhere.
One thing to be noted is that UI’s blue permit will not change. The cost for that permit will remain $59.
The largest proposed increase is in the residential (purple/silver/green) permits. The proposed increase for these permits is 25 percent, going from $59 to $74.
These two items make sense. Those with blue permits tend to spend less time on campus and face greater walking distances between lots and campus buildings.
Those with residential permits, by their very nature, are on campus more and their cars tend to remain parked in the same places for longer periods of time.
Changes to red and gold permits are 8-10 percent, a legitimate increase given rising maintenance costs and inflation.
This leaves the platinum permit as the largest bone of contention. ASUI has done a great job keeping up with these changes but there isn’t much they can do to prevent faculty and staff from getting hit hard in this situation.
As it stands, the Administration Building lot is designated gold. The change on the table is to give that area the new platinum distinction with a permit cost between $400-$500 and will be for “board appointed faculty or staff” only, according to the proposal.
Given that this lot is used by more than just high-ranking — and high salaried — employees, this proposal does seem excessive and unfair. It does, however follow the trend of BSU, which offers a $589 permit to presidents, vice presidents and deans only and WSU, which has a $513 orange permit listed.
Increases to parking violation fines are also included in the proposal, but if you can’t afford to park on campus, getting a ticket is the least of your worries.
— TJT
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