2008 Woodie Awards
The price of parking
Cost of 2008-2009 parking permits are announced; price is a slight increase from last year
Jeff Mason
Issue date: 7/23/08 Section: News
It seems that everything is going up in price lately: a gallon of gas, a movie ticket and now the SIUE parking pass.
The prices of the most basic red permit has gone up from $85 to $89 and the most expensive permits the green, orange and brown ones have gone up from $129 to $136. This is roughly a 5 percent increase from last year, when permit prices went up by $12 across the board and $24 for the yellow residential permits.
According to Robert Vanzo, director for administrative services, the increase is simply a way of paying the bills.
"We sold revenue bonds to finance the parking operation a number of years ago," Vanzo said. "So (we charge) whatever it takes to pay back those bonds and to just do the routine operations and maintenance on the parking (lots)."
The numbers are then run through a computer model, which predicts how much parking services has to charge to cover costs for the year.
"It's a very formulaic thing, and it doesn't really require approval from anybody other than the vice chancellor of administration and the chancellor," Vanzo said.
English professor Joel Hardman said he doesn't mind the increase.
"Parking here is something I don't really think of," Hardman said. "I just pay the price and move on."
Not everyone is so laid back about the increase. Incoming freshman elementary education major Caitlin Riemenshcneider said she wasn't happy with this year's increase.
"I think it's a little ridiculous," Riemenshcneider said. "The prices are already high enough."
Biology professor Paul Brunkov said he doesn't think prices are too high, at least not compared to other universities.
"The classic thing I hear is that parking at St. Louis University is outrageous," Brunkov said.
According to SLU's Web site, the most basic parking pass for the university costs $340 annually, while the most expensive pass, a reserved spot in a parking garage, costs $1,230 a year.
It's not all bad news for SIUE parkers though, since students will now be able to appeal parking citations online instead of having to fill out forms in person.
The prices of the most basic red permit has gone up from $85 to $89 and the most expensive permits the green, orange and brown ones have gone up from $129 to $136. This is roughly a 5 percent increase from last year, when permit prices went up by $12 across the board and $24 for the yellow residential permits.
According to Robert Vanzo, director for administrative services, the increase is simply a way of paying the bills.
"We sold revenue bonds to finance the parking operation a number of years ago," Vanzo said. "So (we charge) whatever it takes to pay back those bonds and to just do the routine operations and maintenance on the parking (lots)."
The numbers are then run through a computer model, which predicts how much parking services has to charge to cover costs for the year.
"It's a very formulaic thing, and it doesn't really require approval from anybody other than the vice chancellor of administration and the chancellor," Vanzo said.
English professor Joel Hardman said he doesn't mind the increase.
"Parking here is something I don't really think of," Hardman said. "I just pay the price and move on."
Not everyone is so laid back about the increase. Incoming freshman elementary education major Caitlin Riemenshcneider said she wasn't happy with this year's increase.
"I think it's a little ridiculous," Riemenshcneider said. "The prices are already high enough."
Biology professor Paul Brunkov said he doesn't think prices are too high, at least not compared to other universities.
"The classic thing I hear is that parking at St. Louis University is outrageous," Brunkov said.
According to SLU's Web site, the most basic parking pass for the university costs $340 annually, while the most expensive pass, a reserved spot in a parking garage, costs $1,230 a year.
It's not all bad news for SIUE parkers though, since students will now be able to appeal parking citations online instead of having to fill out forms in person.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 9
Kurt E. Clothier
posted 7/23/08 @ 12:00 PM CST
Compared to other schools, are prices for parking really aren't that bad at all. The only real problem I have found is the lack of parking spaces in general. (Continued…)
Adam H
posted 7/23/08 @ 12:39 PM CST
prices go up over time? orly?
it's from inflation. the increase in the money supply, which devalues the currency, which causes an increase in prices. (Continued…)
Heather James
posted 7/23/08 @ 4:16 PM CST
It sucks that prices had to go up again, however our prices are very reasonable compared to other schools $89.00 for the year compared to the semester. (Continued…)
siue student
posted 7/23/08 @ 10:30 PM CST
The Brown parking permits are $131...not $136
siue student
posted 7/23/08 @ 10:32 PM CST
The Brown parking permits are $131...not $136
Shawn
posted 7/25/08 @ 9:30 AM CST
Hey i would rather pay the 89 we do here then what other campuses do i just wish that they got rid of the gas guzzling trucks that they use. It would save them money i mean why do they need those for?
SIUE alumni
posted 7/30/08 @ 8:14 AM CST
I work in Clayton, MO and I pay $80 per month for parking. I have never thought the cost of parking on campus has been that bad.
Stevie
posted 7/30/08 @ 12:52 PM CST
Getting rid of the trucks has been an issue in the past, but according to parking services they said they need a truck in order to haul around the necessary equipment. (Continued…)
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