Rates for University Housing are set to increase next year for all housing residents, which Housing expects to create a $3.5 million surplus.

Housing plans to raise the rates for the high rise dormitories by 8 percent and 6 percent for traditional residence halls. Mary Lyndon and Rutherford Halls will only see a 3.5 percent increase and East Campus Village will increase by 2 percent, according to a proposal obtained by The Red & Black.

“East Campus Village rates are the highest rates in our system based on amenities, square footage and bathroom privacy,” said Gerard Kowalski, executive director of Housing, in an e-mail to The Red & Black. “Current rates are comparable to similar type properties in the Athens community, so a lower increase was proposed.”

The largest increases will hit freshman students required to live on campus their first year, increasing the cost from $2,033 to $2,196 per semester. The high rise and most of the traditional residence halls are allocated to freshman students.

The rate increases are expected to bring in about a $1.5 million increase to Housing’s budget, or 3.8 percent.

Along with the rise in rates, land line telephones are being removed from student rooms “due to consistent and dramatic decreases in land line phones and increased use and reliance on personal cell phones,” Kowalski said. Their absence will save housing about $540,000, and land line phones used for staff and security purposes will remain.

An additional $620,000 will be cut from the repairs and maintenance budget, which covers day-to-day operating expenses, said Kevin Burt, assistant director of business and human resources for Housing.

Proposed changes will give Housing $3.5 million.

“We carry a surplus every year to handle our renovation and repairs,” he said. “We have deferred maintenance that hasn’t been addressed in 20 or 30 years.”

An incomplete engineering study on the high rise dorms predict renovation costs to be $50 million.

Housing will support the Greek Park houses on River Road with $1.4 million to the UGA Real Estate Foundation and $200,000 in personnel services.

“The department will not make a profit on the Greek Housing units. Any rent or fees that do not cover the new construction costs will be offset by revenues generated from the entire system,” Kowalski said.and maintenance budget, which covers day-to-day operating expenses, said Kevin Burt, assistant director of business and human resources for Housing.

Proposed changes will give Housing $3.5 million.

“We carry a surplus every year to handle our renovation and repairs,” he said. “We have deferred maintenance that hasn’t been addressed in 20 or 30 years.”

An incomplete engineering study on the high rise dorms predict renovation costs to be $50 million.

Housing will support the Greek Park houses on River Road with $1.4 million to the UGA Real Estate Foundation and $200,000 in personnel services.

“The department will not make a profit on the Greek Housing units. Any rent or fees that do not cover the new construction costs will be offset by revenues generated from the entire system,” Kowalski said.