STOCKTON, Calif. — As nearly 19,000 students returned to the campus of San Joaquin Delta College for the start of the fall semester on Friday, so did old fees.
"We're going to be enforcing parking permits," said San Joaquin Delta Community College District Police Sergeant Jim Bock. "This hasn't been done for several years, we actually relaxed that during the COVID process."
Last year, the signs warning Delta College students and visitors to buy parking passes meant nothing to Israel Moreno and his fellow students.
"That was nice," said Moreno about the free parking offered on campus for nearly three and a half years. "I was surprised. I thought we weren't going to have to this semester, so it was kind of like, you know, a negative."
The news of the returned parking fees was negative for many students to start the fall semester with, but college officials say the decision will help prevent the nearly 90-year-old institution from going into the negative itself.
"We waited as long as we possibly could, but the money to repair those parking lots has to come from somewhere, and there are some of the parking lots that really need some repair," said Bock, noting that nearly all of the college's 20 lots need some types of repairs from potholes to lighting."One of the areas that could use improvement is cameras in the parking lots and extending them out further, but that takes infrastructure... The semester parking permits are $30. Daily parking permits are $2."
For many students, the fees sound reasonable.
"I think it's a fair price. Not too expensive, not too pricey," said first-year student Andre Griffin.
However, not everyone agrees.
"I know it's not too expensive, but still, 30 dollars is a lot for a lot of people," said Moreno.
Administrators say they're aware that some students may have trouble paying the fees and are offering programs that provide things like free food, laundry, health services and textbooks.
Additionally, Bock says that for the next two weeks, officers will be focused on educating drivers about the new policies before handing out tickets.
Parking passes can be purchased at kiosks in all parking lots or on Delta College's website.
"There are several programs on campus if they go to the EOPS center," said Bock "We have a number of resources available to assist students that are in need."
Watch more from ABC10: Vape sensors installed in restrooms of Lincoln Unified schools
