Prices for dining in Vernon F. Galliano Cafeteria and Jazzman’s Caf and prices for on-campus residents’ meal plans have been increased for the 2006-2007 school year due to an increase in the consumer price index, David Wait, Sodexho General Manager, said. However, most of the food venues, such as Godfather’s Pizza, Chick-fil-A and Selona Grill have not been adjusted, Wait said.

The price increases in the cafeteria are as follows: Breakfast has increased from $2.95 to $3.10, lunch has increased from $4.90 to $5.15, and dinner has increased from $6.15 to $6.45. The 25-meal commuter plan has increased from $121.75 to $127.84 before taxes, Wait said.

At Jazzman’s Caf, tall and grande cappuccinos have increased by 20 cents, and supreme cappuccinos have increased by 10 cents. Tall and grande lattes have increased by 10 cents, but the cost of the supreme latte has not been changed, Wait said.

The meal plan increase for on-campus residents increases the daily rate, which is the dollar amount students pay divided by the number of dining days per semester (100 days), Wait said.

Wait said labor has been the big issue for the price increase, and food cost is secondary.

Since Katrina, labor expenses have gone up because there are fewer people available for jobs in southern Louisiana, Wait said. Many employers are finding that they have to compete with one another.

Gasoline prices are also affecting the price of goods because it is more expensive to transport them, Wait said.

Sodexho officials may submit a request for an increased meal plan price based on the consumer price index, which tells officials the inflationary impact on the cost of goods, such as food, labor and controllable and non-controllable costs, Wait said.

That request is reviewed by the University concerning its fairness and is then either approved or denied by the University.

“We are only given one opportunity to evaluate our costs and expenses, and we are not allowed to adjust or change those meal plan prices for the whole year,” Wait said.