University Recreation is expecting a million dollar deficit in the next two years and has proposed to increase student fees to the Student Required Fee Committee.The committee decided last year to increase University Recreation fees by $20 per year for three years beginning fall 2009.Thursday’s proposal, made by University Recreation director Tamara Jarrett, will add to last year’s approved increase.Jarrett said the increase would help University Recreation pay for operational expenses such as personnel and utilities.Without a fee increase, University Recreation is projecting a $980,594 debt for the 2008-2009 fiscal year and a $1,431,186 debt for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.Jarrett said Accounting Services refinanced the bond for University Recreation to a fixed interest rate, which caused the massive debt. She also said personnel and rising energy costs are contributing to the debt.”It’s the bleeding we’re trying to stop,” Jarrett said. “It would have been mitigated if the fee had been put in place this year.”Students are already expecting their University Recreation fees to increase from $45 this semester to $65 in fall 2009.Student Government President and committee chair Colorado Robertson said the committee narrowed the choices down to three options.The first will apply a $40 increase to the University Recreation fee for fall 2009, then drop the increase to $23 for spring 2010 and subsequent semesters.This option would increase the fee to $85 in fall 2009 and $68 for spring 2010.”That would get us through the debt issue,” Jarrett said. “The next year, we’ll get back on track [regarding fees].”University College Center for Freshman Year Sen. Melissa Hart said a huge spike in fees would be a “big shock” to students.Another option is applying a steady $30 fee increase but would require University Recreation to find $700,000 in loans from other University auxiliaries.Eric Monday, interim vice chancellor of Student Life and committee member, said                another auxiliary, such as the Student Health Center or the Student Union, would need to loan $350,000 once a year for two years if the steady $30 increase will work.A third option would delay the fees University Recreation was planning on eliminating — the intramural fee and adventure education. Jarrett said she was planning on getting rid of these fees students would have to pay to participate.The committee’s recommendation has to go to the LSU Board of Supervisors before the end of the semester to be implemented fall 2009.
 
 
 
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