Parking revenue growth not enough

Surplus does not pay parking enforcement costs

A sizable boost in revenue to the city of La Crosse from a special parking assessment still doesn’t cover the bills. 

That’s the word from the city’s public works department today. A new report shows the city’s downtown parking assessment has grown by 4.3 percent this year to over $105,000. 

The idea is to use that money to offset costs of parking enforcement in the city, but it’s nowhere near enough to do that, according to public works.

The parking assessment was put in place years ago to offset revenue lost when parking meters were removed from the streets.  Dozens of businesses pay the city $2 for every $1,000 in value up to $1,500.