NC Supreme Court ruling impacts cost of parking permits

Court Ruling Affects all 16 UNC Schools - Not Just NCSU
A recent NC Supreme Court ruling affecting all 16 UNC school systems directs the majority of funds generated by parking citations to the local school systems.
Additionally, the original suit brought in 1998 and based on an obscure North Carolina constitutional provision, dictates that all parking fine citation monies collected be turned over to the respective local county school system. This results in an immediate $600,000 continuing shortfall in operating funds for NCSU Transportation, as well as a potential liability of $2 to $6 million depending on how far back the courts determine the decision applies. (Although the suit was brought in 1998, the decision allows monies from as far back as 1995 to be subject to the ruling).

History
Since 2001, as the case worked its way through the various levels of adjudication and as a cautionary measure, NCSU Transportation began escrowing all citation money collected – approximately $2 million. If the court rules that retroactive fees apply, an additional $4 million is owed.

NCSU Transportation receives no state-appropriated funding and functions much like a non-profit organization. Historically, from the inception of the UNC school system, it was determined that parking services and amenities (maintenance of parking lots/decks, parking management/enforcement, planning activities, transit) not be funded by academic funds, but rather by those who use and benefit from the services.

Meeting Parking Demand
As the University has grown, the parking system has also grown to accommodate increased need. During the last three years, 3,000 spaces have been added bringing the parking space inventory to approximately 19,000 spaces. The majority of these new spaces are in parking decks, which require more extensive and expensive maintenance (structural checks, lighting, etc.) The level of service provided is contingent on the level of funding.

Although Transportation has cut or postponed many projects, in addition to more parking spaces, several traffic initiatives have been implemented which have increased safety and ease of travel around campus – new traffic pattern around the Coliseum Deck/traffic signal at Cates Avenue and Pullen Road, additional exit lane on Morrill drive to facilitate traffic flow exiting campus. All of these improvements have generated positive and measurable results.

Moving Forward
After three years of no increase in the cost of parking permits, a nine percent overall increase is proposed for next year to continue to accommodate University growth and demand for increased services (many staff and student permits will increase considerably less than nine percent).

To learn more about the court case and its impact, more detailed reporting is available in both the Technician and the Official Bulletin.