At Student Senate last Wednesday, Dean of Students Paula Knudson and Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Bob Hetzel defended a new $20 segregated fee for the maintenance of the new sports complex.
This new fee, which has been decided without a Senate vote, will cover the upkeep costs for the building and field. The money will be used to pay for electricity, janitorial services, and irrigation of the new field, to name a few of the management costs.
Knudson and Hetzel said the fee was required in order for students to get the most benefit out of the new facility.
"A few years before this senate was formed, students committed to the building by pledging to pay for two million dollars in fees for the new building," Hetzel said. The total cost has already put students in to debt, Hetzel added. Since the entire project already has produced $2.5 million dollars in debt, students are responsible for approximately $118,000. So, though the appropriated fee is $20 per year, students will actually be charged $34.05. The difference will go towards the debt service.
The cost has been passed on to the students because a majority of the revenue will pay for larger costs, such as debt. "The total cost of the building is partly covered by the state, but the rest is up to us," Knudson said. A finance committee has looked into alternative forms of revenue for the new stadium including increased admission fees for non-UWL spectators. Knudson explained that we should expect $20,000-$25,000 in revenue every year from people who will rent out the space. This is including the state track meet that UW-L hosts annually.
"I think it's very important that the new sports complex...will change the face of the campus," Knudson said. "All of these costs are into structures that the students will be able to capitalize on."
The $20 annual fee cannot be voted on by the Student Senate and will take effect beginning this fall.
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