“Our deputy director, our chief and our business office manager look at expenditures and decide on rates by forecasting future needs within the parking system, as well as current needs,” MSU Parking Operations Office Supervisor Lynnette Forman said.

Forman said the meter rates and permit rates are set to cover the costs of the parking system, which have increased in the past 10 years.

“The parking system is a self-supported system, so money generated within the system is used to help maintain, build and make payments on the new ramps, snow removal, paving, redesigning, adding spaces and student salary,” she said.

Although maintaining the parking facilities is necessary, some students, such as agribusiness management senior Emma Heck, think the price is too high.

“I would carpool with my friends last year or just walk because parking was too expensive then,” Heck said. “I only started driving to one of my classes this year because I have work right after that I need to get to, and of course, the price has to go up.”

Students also expressed interest in adding additional meters that accept credit cards.

“(It) will only increase the convenience and revenue for parking,” communication senior Greg Rokisky said. “Change is becoming less and less common amongst our age group.”

Forman said the batteries in meters that accept credit cards are solar powered and would not be able to take credit cards in a parking garage.

“We are exploring other options, such as using pay stations, pay-by-space and pay-by-plate,” Forman said. “But at this time have not invested in any of them.”

In order to implement those updates, she said further software would need to be purchased to allow those using meters to pay on their cell phones when their meters are running out.

“I think that those are really good ideas,” Heck said. “I think MSU should definitely continue to look into that because too many students lose track of when their meters are running out and get a parking ticket.”

Forman said the decision to install these options rests with MSU Parking Operations Deputy Director John Prush.

Prush said MSU will do a 90-day trial of the Pay-by-Plate system in the parking lot near the Student Services building sometime in the near future.

The pay-by-plate system calls for visitors to enter their license plate number into a kiosk and retrieve a receipt that way.

“There are 10 meters in that lot, so it’s a perfect place to do it,” Prush said. “We are aggressively looking into these options to make parking more convenient for visitors."