2008 Woodie Awards
Parking fee to increase next fall
John Saiz
Issue date: 5/16/03 Section: News
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On a chilly Wednesday morning, Yuba College student Cheryl Roux stood in the West Parking Lot at the Marysville campus, holding a parking space for friend Kimberlee Kelley. Next fall that parking space will double in price to $40 a semester. The Board of Trustees approved the increase at its May 14 meeting.
"It's ridiculous," said Roux. "I'm not going to pay $40. Half of the time, I have to park way out there," she said, pointing to the far north area of the West Parking Lot. "I have to come half an hour before class to get a space."
"I thought $20 was ridiculous," said Kelley. "They need to get more parking spots."
Yuba College student Karen Lehman echoed Roux and Kelley's sentiment.
"$40? For this parking lot?" exclaimed Lehman. "When are they going to pave it? I don't mind paying the extra fee if they're going to improve the condition of the lot."
The parking rate increase is happening for many reasons, according to Dr. Kevin Trutna, member of the District Council and Dean of Math, Engineering, Science and Health.
"The budget of parking and security, which includes safety services, locking and unlocking the buildings on campus and patrolling the parking lot and campus, is roughly $320,000," said Trutna. "Current fees cover about $120,000 of that. The General Fund has been subsidizing this $200,000 shortfall for a few years. People don't realize parking and security are under the same budget."
"Students receiving the BOGw waiver will not be affected by the increase," added Trutna. "The Board of Governors also sets how much we can charge for parking. The maximum we can charge is $100 over the course of a year."
"Fifty percent of our students have the BOGw waiver," said Dr. John Flaherty, District Council member and instructor of Astronomy and Physics. "The maximum we can charge these students is $20 (per semester), so the most financially needy students are protected from the increase."
Some students, like Lehman, wouldn't mind the increase if the funds go towards improvements.
"It's ridiculous," said Roux. "I'm not going to pay $40. Half of the time, I have to park way out there," she said, pointing to the far north area of the West Parking Lot. "I have to come half an hour before class to get a space."
"I thought $20 was ridiculous," said Kelley. "They need to get more parking spots."
Yuba College student Karen Lehman echoed Roux and Kelley's sentiment.
"$40? For this parking lot?" exclaimed Lehman. "When are they going to pave it? I don't mind paying the extra fee if they're going to improve the condition of the lot."
The parking rate increase is happening for many reasons, according to Dr. Kevin Trutna, member of the District Council and Dean of Math, Engineering, Science and Health.
"The budget of parking and security, which includes safety services, locking and unlocking the buildings on campus and patrolling the parking lot and campus, is roughly $320,000," said Trutna. "Current fees cover about $120,000 of that. The General Fund has been subsidizing this $200,000 shortfall for a few years. People don't realize parking and security are under the same budget."
"Students receiving the BOGw waiver will not be affected by the increase," added Trutna. "The Board of Governors also sets how much we can charge for parking. The maximum we can charge is $100 over the course of a year."
"Fifty percent of our students have the BOGw waiver," said Dr. John Flaherty, District Council member and instructor of Astronomy and Physics. "The maximum we can charge these students is $20 (per semester), so the most financially needy students are protected from the increase."
Some students, like Lehman, wouldn't mind the increase if the funds go towards improvements.