The State News is requesting a $1 per semester tax increase when the universitywide polls open online March 12-16.
The increase would up the tax from $4 to $5 per semester.
“The State News wouldn’t be asking for it if it wasn’t needed,” Editor in Chief Jeremy Steele said. “Like any other newspaper, we rely on our subscribers.”
The newspaper has undergone several changes since the last tax increase 13 years ago, Steele said.
A request to increase the tax from $4 to $5 per semester in 1994 failed.
More color and news coverage has been incorporated into the student newspaper. With a circulation of about 28,500 every day, students pay about 7 cents.
Although the changes have increased the quality of the paper, they also have resulted in additional expenses, such as higher printing costs and more hired staff positions, Steele said.
Last year, student fees covered 57 percent of the about $600,000 in printing expenses. Printed pages totaled 1,618 last year, up from 1,123 in 1991. Other printing costs are covered by advertising.
“It functions as a living lab for students as they get real-world experience,” Steele said.
A referendum to raise per-semester taxes for ASMSU, the undergraduate student government, to $16 and the University Apartments’ Council of Residents’ per-semester tax to $3 also will appear on the ballot.
General Manager Marty Sprigg said it’s important for the newspaper to be MSU’s independent voice - tax increases will support that cause, she said.
“No other medium provides the amount of information The State News does at Michigan State University,” Sprigg said.
“That’s the reason why we are here. We want to provide more enhancements to The State News and our Web site and continue to provide opportunities for students to get hands-on experience.”
Parks and recreation senior Ben Conley said paying an additional dollar to the newspaper each semester isn’t out of bounds for the news he gets.
“I read it pretty much every day,” he said, adding that the sports section is his favorite.
English senior Katie Przybyla said she always questions the reasons behind tax increases but supports the newspaper’s request.
“Twelve dollars a year would be a steal for any other newspaper,” she said.
A six-page tax proposal compiled by State News officials is available at www.statenews.com. Students can vote at www.student-elections.msu.edu.
