Beginning this summer students living in La Maison du Bayou apartments must add $50 to their bills due to a rent increase at the complex. According to Eugene Dial, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services, the “cost of power” has gone up.

Dial gave three reasons for the sudden increase: the cost to operate the facility is more than it takes in, the utility cost is higher and the overall maintenance of the building is expensive as well.

La Maison has already paid more than $700,000 in repairs to restore the complex from the condition in which it was left by its previous owners – Collegiate Management.

“All the rent goes to La Maison,” Dial said. “Rumors about using rent to finance the construction around campus are not true.”

The disbursement of student funds is itemized on students’ bills. The rent will show on the bill as rent, and various fees to finance construction will appear as such.

Students with a contract established prior to the increase will not be affected. Twelve-month contracts will serve out with the price agreed on by the school and the student, according to Dial.

The current price of a four-bedroom apartment is $465 per month with a 12-month contract or $485 per month with a 10-month contract. A two-bedroom apartment is $525 per month for a year or $550 per month for 10 months. These prices were established in November 2006 to take effect in July of last year.

Dial said all prices will increase by $50 this summer for La Maison du Bayou residents. No residence halls will be affected by the increase.

La Maison, as well as other residence halls, offers student employment opportunities. According to Dial, about one of every 10 students has a job working in their own residence hall.

“The pay may be little, but it can help in getting through college,” Dial said.

Any scholarships a student receives help toward paying for housing as well.

Financial aid of any kind is calculated into the student’s bill from the University. The leftover amount is the student’s responsibility to pay, or to set up a payment plan with the university.

There still are a few repairs to be made, and much renovating has yet to be complete, according to Dial.

“We hope the students won’t mind the increase,” Dial said. “We want these facilities to stay up-and-running and looking nice for the students who occupy them.