Fayetteville officials want to raise parking citation fees and special-event rates. Why? The downtown parking program relies too much on taxpayer money. City Council cut General Fund support back in June, leaving a $250,000 hole in the parking fund’s operating budget.
According to the CityView, assistant public services director Brian McGill shared his recommendations during a City Council work session on Aug. 3. His three-part proposal doubles special-event rates at the Hay Street parking deck from $5 to $10. It also boosts citation fees across 13 violation categories and converts the Bow & Ann Lot from permit-only to paid parking.
The parking program loses money. Each year the system brings in about $550,000 but needs just over $1.1 million to operate, according to assistant city manager Jeff Yates. The General Fund covers the remaining $544,000…