End The SF Parking Tax
End The SF Parking Tax
The Issue
Join the Associated Students of SFSU Board of Directors in opposing the 25% SF Parking Tax!
______
To the Office of the Mayor,
We are writing to express our opposition to the collection of the 25% parking tax at San Francisco State University, and requesting the cessation of the collection of this tax. As students of SFSU, we believe this tax has a negative impact on our community and on the future economy of San Francisco in general.
The parking tax has increased the cost of parking in the city, making it more difficult for students, faculty, and staff to access our campus. This has serious consequences, particularly for those who rely on their cars to get to and from school or work. The high cost of living in the region has forced many students, staff, and faculty to commute, resulting in 85% of SFSU students commuting to pursue their education.
The revenue generated by the parking tax is not guaranteed to be used for programs or services that directly benefit students. Instead, revenue that goes to the general fund is spent on expenditures not directly associated with higher education.
We believe that there are better ways to address the fiscal and environmental challenges facing our city, including finding alternative sources of revenue and investing in sustainable transportation options. SFSU and Associated Students have consistently engaged with the City on transportation demand management, including a vote of the students to assess a $180 fee on themselves to fund Gator Passes which increase access to Bay Area public transit.
For many, however, the Gator Pass does not go far enough to cover all public transit costs, or students simply live in areas not well served by transit and must commute via personal vehicle.
We do not believe this parking tax should be a significant part of the City’s environmental strategy.
The CSU system is working to encourage graduation rates and seeks to limit unnecessary hardships, financial and otherwise. This tax represents such a hardship. As disparities in graduation rates are prevalent among minority students, this is a matter of social justice and equity.
The majority of SFSU graduates remain in the Bay Area and contribute to its economy, with added tax revenue from earnings and spending. The parking tax is a barrier to graduation and economic mobility. It is fiscally short-sighted.
Parking tax revenue from institutions of higher learning is estimated to be $4 million annually, or a small .03% of the City’s $12 billion budget.
Therefore, we respectfully urge the City and County of San Francisco to reconsider the parking tax and instead work with the community to find solutions that benefit everyone. While we understand the legal question is settled per CA Supreme Court decision, we don’t believe the moral question is settled.
In the interest of economic justice, we seek an exception or a drastic reduction to the Parking Tax on the SFSU campus. The City should not be depending on its students for revenue; instead, it should be investing in its future by reducing economic difficulties for its students.
Sincerely,
Authored by: The External Affairs Committee of Associated Students SFSU
_____
https://asi.sfsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2021PolicyAgenda.pdf
https://asi.sfsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Transit-Pass-Resolution.pdf
430
The Issue
Join the Associated Students of SFSU Board of Directors in opposing the 25% SF Parking Tax!
______
To the Office of the Mayor,
We are writing to express our opposition to the collection of the 25% parking tax at San Francisco State University, and requesting the cessation of the collection of this tax. As students of SFSU, we believe this tax has a negative impact on our community and on the future economy of San Francisco in general.
The parking tax has increased the cost of parking in the city, making it more difficult for students, faculty, and staff to access our campus. This has serious consequences, particularly for those who rely on their cars to get to and from school or work. The high cost of living in the region has forced many students, staff, and faculty to commute, resulting in 85% of SFSU students commuting to pursue their education.
The revenue generated by the parking tax is not guaranteed to be used for programs or services that directly benefit students. Instead, revenue that goes to the general fund is spent on expenditures not directly associated with higher education.
We believe that there are better ways to address the fiscal and environmental challenges facing our city, including finding alternative sources of revenue and investing in sustainable transportation options. SFSU and Associated Students have consistently engaged with the City on transportation demand management, including a vote of the students to assess a $180 fee on themselves to fund Gator Passes which increase access to Bay Area public transit.
For many, however, the Gator Pass does not go far enough to cover all public transit costs, or students simply live in areas not well served by transit and must commute via personal vehicle.
We do not believe this parking tax should be a significant part of the City’s environmental strategy.
The CSU system is working to encourage graduation rates and seeks to limit unnecessary hardships, financial and otherwise. This tax represents such a hardship. As disparities in graduation rates are prevalent among minority students, this is a matter of social justice and equity.
The majority of SFSU graduates remain in the Bay Area and contribute to its economy, with added tax revenue from earnings and spending. The parking tax is a barrier to graduation and economic mobility. It is fiscally short-sighted.
Parking tax revenue from institutions of higher learning is estimated to be $4 million annually, or a small .03% of the City’s $12 billion budget.
Therefore, we respectfully urge the City and County of San Francisco to reconsider the parking tax and instead work with the community to find solutions that benefit everyone. While we understand the legal question is settled per CA Supreme Court decision, we don’t believe the moral question is settled.
In the interest of economic justice, we seek an exception or a drastic reduction to the Parking Tax on the SFSU campus. The City should not be depending on its students for revenue; instead, it should be investing in its future by reducing economic difficulties for its students.
Sincerely,
Authored by: The External Affairs Committee of Associated Students SFSU
_____
https://asi.sfsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/2021PolicyAgenda.pdf
https://asi.sfsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Transit-Pass-Resolution.pdf
430
Supporter Voices
Petition created on April 29, 2023