Perry High School brings in a little more than $54,000 each year from student parking alone. This begs the question: where does all the money go to?  

Student parking has been a hot topic over the past couple of years. Last year the upperclassmen were left without parking due to limited spaces and paid $70. Whereas this year spaces were added and lower classmen were restricted from parking in the lot, but the price tag came with an increase to $80.

With about 680 parking spots in the student parking section (not including the parallel spots or the parking spots next to the fine arts building). Assuming every single student paid the $80 fee, that would bring in about $54,000 of revenue.

Principal Dan Serrano stated that “[the money] goes into an account called the ‘Parking Account,’ [and] that money can only be used for parking-specific things.”

Examples of non-parking needs would include expenses on computers or supplies.

Some ways the school has spent these funds would be the money spent to add additional spaces, such as the spaces parallel to the bus barn and providing maintenance for the lot. Another important expense would be paying security guards that are vigilant over the lot.

Serrano also explained that the $80 price tag is not up to him, but rather it is a mandated by the district and cannot be tampered with. He does understand how for some families $80 for a parking spot can be a lot, but he also explained “I haven’t had anyone say ‘I have spot but I can’t afford it.'”

Although some students still believe that parking is too expensive, Junior Lily Drosos explained, “even though it’s my parents money, [I think] eighty dollars is a lot for high school parking”.

Some students may think parking is expensive but see reason in the $80 price tag.

Senior Xavier Celaya states, “I think it’s expensive but they have to get money to maintain the school”

Eighty dollars for some might be expensive, but all the money from parking is put to use by adding spaces, paying for security, and maintaining the lot.