CFA considers fee increase request from Parking and Transit Services

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Committee for Fees Allocation had an unusually long meeting — more than two hours — Tuesday night, as three more fee users presented their budgets for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Parking and Transit Services, Nebraska Unions and the UNL Readership Program all presented their requests, but the majority of the meeting focused on one fee user asking for an increase.

The Parking and Transit Services is requesting a $6.90 increase in student funds per student per semester.

Dan Carpenter, director of Parking and Transit Services, began his presentation by explaining that due to an aging bus fleet and the lack of funds to replace and repair them, Parking and Transit is looking to contract out its busing responsibilities to StarTran.

"We think maintaining the level of service is priority," Carpenter said. "We like to not have an increase, but we are stuck with the fact of replacing the buses or hiring someone to do it."

Parking and Transit is hoping to work out a five-year contract with StarTran, which would maintain the same level of service for students but would leave all busing responsibilities to StarTran.

The majority of the meeting revolved around CFA members voicing their concerns about why students must absorb the cost in student fees and if there are any other options.

The CFA subcommittee will meet with Parking and Transit Services this week to discuss its budget request and will make a recommendation to the entire group before members vote on the request Feb. 7.

"I think the meeting went very well and it should be interesting to see what the subcommittee recommends," said Nolan Johnson, a junior management major and CFA chair.

The other two budget proposals were short in comparison and did not provoke much discussion from the committee.

The Nebraska Union is asking for a total of $3,944,068 from student fees, which is not an increase from last year's request.

The UNL Readership Program is asking for $200,000, which is also not an increase in student fees.

Emilynitcher@DailyNebraskan.com