CEDAR FALLS — The Board of Regents approved a raise in the rates for room and board and parking Thursday at its meeting at the University of Northern Iowa.

Room and board rates at Iowa State will increase $720 and a student parking permit will increase $15, according to regent documents. The room and board and parking rates were also increased at the other state-funded universities.

“One thing to note is that in the case of the residence systems and parking system, both are self supporting,” said Barbara Boose, communication specialist for the Board of Regents. “There are no state appropriations supporting them.”

During a report on the legislative sessions, Executive Director Greg Nichols said that Public Strategies Group, a Minnesota-based consultant, has recommended Iowa charge its five Regents institutions rent on buildings, land and equipment.

“It’s the equivalent to a $600 property tax on every public university student and deaf and blind child,” said Owen Newlin, Board of Regents president.

Although this tax was recommended by Public Strategies Groups, officials said it is unlikely to be passed.

“[The Board of Regents] vigorously opposes this sort of capital charge,” Newlin said.

Gov. Tom Vilsack is also not a supporter of the capital charge on the Regents, Newlin said.

Public Strategies Group was hired by the state to identify ways to cut government costs while improving services, Nichols said.

“This is not a sensible approach,” Newlin said. “It is not an insignificant amount of money.”

Regent David Fisher of West Des Moines compared the tax to a $600 tuition increase.

Newlin said the charge could hurt not only the public university students, but the entire state.

Regents institutions have already sustained funding cuts and underfundings of a combined $159 million in the past three fiscal years, Newlin said.

“The capital charge threatens the efforts of the state’s public universities to strengthen the economic development in Iowa,” he said. “It will strain an already tight budget.”

Two board members sat in on their last meeting Thursday. Fisher and Clarkson Kelly of Charles City are retiring. A luncheon was held in their honor. Both Fisher and Kelly have served on the Board of Regents since 1997, Newlin said.

“They say you have a great deal of power being on the Board of Regents,” Fisher said. “Now I’m giving up that power, except for one thing — my parking permit.”