Prices for campus parking permits could go up next year, members of UW-Madison's Student Transportation Board learned Tuesday.
The university's Transportation Services Committee approved the proposal last Friday, which is now waiting final approval from Chancellor David Ward.
The proposal would increase the base cost of parking in lots such as Union South by $45, motorcycle permits by $20, moped permits by $35 and monthly permits by $5.
Associated Students of Madison Student Transportation Board member Chase Wilson told the board Tuesday increases would help make up for the university's transportation system's lack of funding.
"Everyone knows that [transportation services] needs more money. [Transportation Services Director Patrick Kass] been pretty open about that this year," Wilson said. "He's running on a deficit."
The board also discussed the future of the campus bus system funding.
Members of the committee said the university is considering decreasing funding to the system, meaning it would be funded primarily through students' segregated fees.
The committee said it plans to fight for the university to continue funding the bus system in a press release last week.
While university administration has said staff and faculty support the bus system by paying for permits, STB member Laura Checovich said the board should "fight back against the administration labeling parking revenues as a subsidy."
"It seems to me that when a faculty or staff person pays their parking fees, they have entered into an agreement that they're paying for that parking spot," Checovich said. "That money is then used by transportation in a way that they see fit, not that it's a trade.
