SDUHSD eliminates parking pass fee

By Karen Billing

San Dieguito Union High School District is eliminating its $40 annual parking permit fee for students to park in their high school parking lots.

“We had people question the cost of the permits over the years, and most recently there was a formal complaint that caused us to go back and look at it,” said Eric Dill, associate superintendent of business services.

“While the California Department of Education said the district was within our right to charge for the passes, we looked at the complaints and how the budget situation was improving, and we decided we could eliminate the fee.”

The district will lose just under $78,000 among the four high schools, but Dill said other revenues are up, so they plan to see an offset greater than what they are losing.

Dill said principals were notified late last week, and they will continue to issue parking permits in the same way, on a first-come, first-served basis — they just won’t collect the checks.

The reason for the permits is to help control traffic congestion and regulate the number of cars fighting for the limited spaces available, Dill said.