People parking in front of Western’s meters are paying more for their minutes.

Before winter break, a quarter put 30 minutes on the parking meter. Now, meter prices have been increased, and a quarter only buys 15 minutes.

Meter rates were increased to increase revenue of the parking services department and decrease abuse of meter parking, said Ginny Griffin, operations manager of the department.

The expected revenue from parking meters for the 2007-2008 school year was $50,000. That is projected to fall short by about $5,000, because the rates weren’t increased until January, Griffin said.

Parking services intended to implement the increase during the summer, but daily challenges such as construction and traffic changes delayed that plan, Griffin said. The department waited until the break to avoid surprising students during the semester.

Parking services had the approval from the Administrative Council to increase meter rates for two years.

Meters are easier to enforce than signs because they show time violations, Griffin said. A sign that designates a spot by the Environmental Science and Technology as having a 10-minute limit will be replaced with a meter. The time limit is regularly abused.

The department is partially university funded but is mostly revenue dependent. It’s responsible for the upkeep and creation of all campus parking lots.

There are several projects they would like to complete but don’t have the money for.

Projects include: $1.3 million for the renovation of Parking Structure 1, $1.5 million for maintenance on the Pearce-Ford Tower and Chestnut Street lots, $145,000 for ongoing maintenance on the lots in good condition, $450,000 for shuttle operations, and $200,000 for shuttle bus replacement, Parking Services Director Jennifer Tougas said.

Parking services is waiting for the state legislature to approve a $4 million bond to help pay for some of the projects.

The bond will pay for the paving of the Adams Street gravel lot, the expansion of the University Boulevard lot and if money is left, the renovation of the Chestnut Street lot and the PFT lot, Tougas said.

Parking services met with President Gary Ransdell to discuss the financial situation, Tougas said.

Several things are being considered to increase revenue, such as placing advertisements inside shuttles.

The creation of the visitor lot will also raise revenue, Tougas said.

Before advertisements are placed in campus shuttles, approval is needed from the president, said Gary Meszaros, director of auxiliary services.

Parking services wants to work with students involved in WKU Students in Free Enterprise in order to develop the advertisements and place them in campus shuttles, Meszaros said.

Reach Danielle Bullock at news@wkuherald.com.