Meanwhile, the city of East Lansing is looking for permission from voters to sell the University Place parking structure and the land it sits on.

CATA is asking for a .787-mill tax increase — which would equal $39.35 per year for a home valued at $100,000 — the next five years. Ingham County voters voted down a Cata millage proposal last year, which caused a rise in fares to cover expenses, said CATA CEO and Executive Director Sandy Draggoo.

The rise in gas prices in the last year has increased CATA’s budget significantly, Draggoo said.

CATA raised its fares in April to compensate for the millage that failed in November 2007. Student rates went up 10 cents to 60 cents. Regular rates rose 25 cents to $1.25.

Draggoo said CATA originally wanted to raise student fares to 75 cents, but feedback from MSU students at public hearings influenced CATA to settle for a 10 cent increase.

“When the big hit came, that (additional) dollar a gallon hit, between last November and now that makes a million dollars difference in the budget,” Draggoo said.

“We use 1.2 million gallons of fuel per year, so it makes such a tremendous difference.”

The millage increase would be used for operational purposes such as fuel, parts, electricity and wages, Draggoo said.

However, there are consequences in store for CATA if the millage is denied.

“If the millage fails, beginning in January 2009, the first cuts would take place,” Draggoo said.

“In August 2009, the second cut would happen. Twenty-five percent of services would be cut, which would bring us back to 1980 level of service.”

Trevor Deland, a mechanical engineering junior, said he has used CATA once or twice, but usually rides his bike.

Deland said it would be unfair to tax people who don’t ride the bus around East Lansing.

“I wouldn’t say it’s their fault (those who ride the bus) but it’s their choice to use the commodity, so they should be willing to pay for it,” he said.

The city of East Lansing also is asking voters for permission to discuss selling the parking structure and its land. The ramp is on Albert Avenue between M.A.C. Avenue and Charles Street.

Jim van Ravensway, director of planning and community development for the city, said selling the ramp won’t affect East Lansing’s public parking situation.

“We don’t feel that it would have a negative impact on the capacity of general public parking,” van Ravensway said. “Most people don’t know it’s there.”

Van Ravensway said the majority of the ramp’s users are hotel guests, employees at the building or clients visiting the attorneys in the building.

The East Lansing City Charter requires the city have voters’ permission to sell city land when the property has value of more than $4 per person.

With East Lansing’s population at around 46,700, that brings the cost needing voter approval to about $196,000.