Even though fewer parking tickets have been issued in the past few years, Parking Services still collected more than $545,000 in ticket revenue in Fiscal Year 2012, according to information provided by Parking Services Director Scott Kangas.

Parking Services has collected $408,796 this fiscal year in ticket revenue. Permits and parking meter fees are not factored in. Data from the previous five years showed a high of $665,545 in Fiscal Year 2009 and a low of $533,386 in Fiscal Year 2011. The last fiscal year’s revenue was $546,514.

Kangas said for the last three fiscal years the average parking ticket cost $19.62.

Kangas said parking ticket revenue is essential because it covers costs the state doesn’t.

“Parking is a user-funded auxiliary operation and is not supported by funds from the state,” Kangas said. “As such, the cost of providing facilities and operating the parking program must be absorbed by the users. NIU works diligently to balance adequate facilities with reasonable costs by offering a variety of parking and transportation options to access the campus, including surface lots, garages, on-street parking, shuttle buses within and to [and] from campus, a bike sharing program, bike paths, pedestrian friendly walk areas and more.”

Parking tickets are issued for a variety of reasons. They range in cost from $5 for the improper display of a permit to $250 for parking in a handicapped space without the required permit, Kangas said.

Kangas said total revenue for Parking Services is about $2.4 million a year. It has 16 employees including Kangas and he said $517,662 has been budgeted for salaries this year. Kangas said ticket revenue covers the salaries, and the money left is used for maintenance of facilities, transportation and improvements.

Eric Jome, director of media relations for Illinois State University (ISU), said the university’s parking ticket revenues have also fallen in recent years. Jome said he couldn’t explain the drop in revenues beyond the implementation of new shuttle bus routes that encourage students to take the bus to or around campus rather than driving.

Jome said part of ISU’s parking ticket revenue helps support the upkeep of facilities, parking lots and transportation.

Robin Kaler, associate chancellor for public affairs at the University of Illinois, said the Urbana-Champaign campus parking ticket revenues amount to more than $825,000. Kaler said fines help support its Parking Department and stay about the same each year.

U of I has a total spring 2013 enrollment of 40,964 students.

“We try to prevent issuance of citations by making sure our signage is correct and posted in a timely manner,” Kangas said. “The information on our Web page is correct and up to date. We often issue warning citations when we are able or reduce the fee as per our regulations above. And remember, any citation may be appealed by those who believe extenuating circumstances caused them to receive a ticket. Documentation of the extenuating circumstances should be included in the appeal. See our web page for more information on appeals.”

Kangas said it is possible to attend NIU for four years, park on campus every day and never receive a parking ticket by complying with the parking signs, rules and regulations.

For more information about Parking Services, visit www.niu.edu/parking/.