ACT Members Back Sliding-Scale Permits

Under the proposal, the University's highest-paid employees would see a large permit cost increase, while lower-paid employees and students would have a significantly smaller increase.

Committee members have until the end of the semester to officially recommend an option to the University vice chancellors.

Permit prices could be raised as part of a five-year plan to help officials eliminate a budget deficit caused by the cost of gating parking lots, the loss of spaces to construction and a court ruling that requires UNC to hand over money from parking fines to area school districts.

Last year, the Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee, which has since been replaced by ACT, attempted to solve the budget crisis with a night parking plan.

The plan was rejected by the UNC Board of Trustees, forcing ACT to devise a new funding source.

The sliding-scale option, proposed by the faculty last year, seems to be the "most equitable way to distribute the cost of parking on campus," said Sue Estroff, Faculty Council chairwoman and a member of ACT.

Employees who earn less than $50,000 per year and students would see an annual price increase of up to 5 percent.

Employees earning salaries between $50,000 and $100,000 would pay an annual increase of up to 10 percent.

Those employees who earn more than $100,000 would face price increases up to 20 percent each year.

"It's hefty," said Estroff, who would expect to pay an extra $120 per year for her permit.

"It might hit some people the wrong way, but it's as fair as it can be on a large scale," she said.

ACT's student representatives, including Rebekah Burford, chief of staff for Student Body President Jen Daum, also support the option.

"It would not be fair to have employees and faculty pay the same price when the staff's salary is increments lower," she said.

The sliding-scale proposal seems to be the most promising option thus far, said ACT member Tammy McHale, senior associate dean of finance and planning.

Applying a flat-rate increase would harm lower-paid employees, making it harder for them to purchase permits, she said.

But she and other members have expressed concern that prices will continue to rise after the five years, despite officials' anticipation that costs will return to normal.

"Prices must not continue to compound," McHale said.

"Future price deviations would be ridiculous."

Even though higher-paid employees could see a 100 percent price increase by the end of the five-year plan, McHale added that UNC's permit rates are below market value.

"It just means that higher-paid employees would reach normal prices quicker," she said.

Leaders from all groups affected said every side has been represented fairly.

"I try to take everyone's perspective into account, not just my own," McHale said.

Discussion about the five-year plan that will begin in January will continue at ACT's next meeting, Nov. 27.

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.