re: LSU AD Clearly Does Not Understand Economic Substitution: Parking

If you believ either one of the two "facts" you just touted is true, then I have no hope for you to understand what this is all about.

At the end of the day, LSU is one entity. Some of my tax dollars fund 300K of Les Miles' salary. That is a fact. Also, if you think that this parking money will not find its way into budget gaps in other parts of the university, you are naive. LSU in its entirety will try to make as much money from as many avenues as possible all while supposedly trying to cut cost. That is the bottom line. Now, if you are upset that you are being lied to about "clean up" cost, then you have a point. But it does not take an ecomics degree to truly understand what LSU is doing and will continue to do.

Once things pick back up, these fees will stay and LSU will grow. Very few universities save money. When their is a budget shortfall, they explore every avenue to raise income and lower cost. When there is a surplus, they retain a minimal amount, but spend the rest on growth strategies. Parking fees are just part of an elaborate university-wide plan. If you want to raise hell, you should do so when they are appropriating funds during the surplus years. That is the time to plan for things like this. Right now it is too late, so the bitching will fall on deaf ears.

Edit: According to a lettor from LSU Chancellor Michael Martin, the LSU atheltic Department is not funded by a single state tax dollar. I am researching more to find out the LSU AD income sources. Will update accordingly.