Students will have to pay $30 more if they want to park in the Austin High School parking lot next year.

The fee increase from $20 to $50 was approved as a part of the 2003-04 student handbook. Principal Joe Brown said the increase is to pay for signs that say cars without permits will be towed. It will also go toward parking lot security because the Austin Police Department may not be able to provide survelliance next year.

There are 72 parking spaces in the student lot, which will raise $3,600. Only seniors with a 2.0 grade point average and good attendance are selected for spots.

Students' opinions varied on the increase.

Ashley Bumgardner is a sophomore, but doesn't think she will pay to park in the lot if she's eligible as a senior.

"Not if it's going to cost that much," she said. "It's kind of ridiculous."

Senior Brooke Hyland parks in the lot now, but certain circumstances would determine if she would pay more to park there.

"I wouldn't pay it with my own money, but if it was my parents maybe I would," Hyland said.

Since she's graduating, she won't have to worry about paying more than $20. Her parents paid her fee this year anyway. Parking in the lot has its benefits, she admits.

"I can come to school and not be have to park far away," she said. "I don't want to walk five blocks to class."

Sophomore Brady Mallory usually comes to school at 7 a.m. and manages to get a spot adjacent to the parking lot each morning. Still, he might consider getting a $50 permit as a senior.

"I can park on the street for free, but it's the parking lot so it's very tempting," Mallory said.

The $50 fee works out to about 28 cents a day to park in the lot, Brown said.

"It's not a huge amount of money," Brown said.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :mailto:cari.quam@austindailyherald.com