Faculty Willing to Pay Based on Sliding Scale

Although higher parking costs could be on the horizon for everyone at UNC, a proposal for steering permit increases over the next few years is garnering initial support from the campus community.

UNC's Advisory Committee on Transportation finalized a proposal Wednesday calling for a sliding-scale permit price increase to help offset the cost of long-term construction projects. The proposed scale would require those with higher salaries to pay more for parking.

The entire proposal still must be approved by UNC's vice chancellors and then by the Board of Trustees.

If the proposal is passed, permit prices will increase each year by 5 percent for those earning an annual income less than $50,000, by 10 percent for those earning $50,000 to $100,000 and by 20 percent for those earning more than $100,000.

Although faculty members, who generally fall in the higher salary brackets, would shoulder much of the increase, some are supportive of the plan.

English Professor Connie Eble said the increased rate of a permit, though not welcomed, would not alter her plans to buy one.

Biology Professor Robert Peet also said he will purchase a permit despite the possible increase. "I have to get to work somehow," he said.

Sue Estroff, Faculty Council chairwoman and ACT member, said she supports the sliding scale decision even though she will be affected significantly. "There are so few ways for people who are relatively well-off to ease the burden from those who are less well-off," she said. "No one likes to pay the exorbitant prices of parking ... but this is one way to help."

Those who fall into the bottom two-thirds of the proposed increase, mostly students and employees, find the proposed increases palatable. "It doesn't seem like it will affect students that much," said junior Jessica Newfield.

Student Body President Jen Daum, who briefly served on ACT, said that she agreed with the proposal and that she thinks it will be helpful to students. "I think it sends a strong message of community," she said.

Ronald Fearrington, a Mainstreet Lenoir employee, said he thinks it is necessary to charge higher-paid staff and faculty more than students and lower-paid employees. "A lot of times, the students are paying more (for parking) than the professors," he said.

The sliding-scale increases are a part of ACT's long-term parking and transportation proposal, which also calls for the creation of 3,030 new parking spaces.

Estroff said she is not sure how much the increased permit prices will help UNC's finances once the five-year construction plan ends, but, she said, "It is something that needs to be done."

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