Comments on: Parking enterprise: Is it worth keeping, or perhaps new ownership? http://csbj.com/2012/09/28/parking-enterprise-is-it-worth-keeping-or-perhaps-new-ownership/ Mon, 20 May 2013 18:47:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Jonathan LIepe http://csbj.com/2012/09/28/parking-enterprise-is-it-worth-keeping-or-perhaps-new-ownership/comment-page-1/#comment-69610 Jonathan LIepe Fri, 05 Oct 2012 01:37:11 +0000 http://csbj.com/?p=59004#comment-69610 Is parking a business or a public service? If parking is to be ran as a non-profit, one might argue a private, non-profit could do so with lower overhead. However, the challenge comes when those services require significant capital to fund future projects. As soon as you add that element, non-profits fail to obtain that capital at the same competitive rates as publicly funded projects.

So, before you think this is a good idea…do your research and explore the pitfalls encountered across the nation (e.g., Chicago leasing its parking or the Indiana toll road which doubled toll rates). Whenever you start selling off public assets, it’s like doing a reverse mortgage on your home…it may result in a cash influx now but future generations are left with nothing to benefit.

]]> By: Gene http://csbj.com/2012/09/28/parking-enterprise-is-it-worth-keeping-or-perhaps-new-ownership/comment-page-1/#comment-69580 Gene Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:19:40 +0000 http://csbj.com/?p=59004#comment-69580 Someone should remind Mayor Bach that this isn’t a command economy. Cities aren’t supposed to run businesses; businesses are supposed to run businesses. They do it more efficiently and effectively with political influence. Cities are supposed to tax businesses.

]]> By: Bernie Herpin http://csbj.com/2012/09/28/parking-enterprise-is-it-worth-keeping-or-perhaps-new-ownership/comment-page-1/#comment-69579 Bernie Herpin Mon, 01 Oct 2012 16:02:34 +0000 http://csbj.com/?p=59004#comment-69579 I am under the impression that funds generated by the parking enterprise only go to service the parking debt, fund the enterprise’s expenses, and for downtown and OCC projects. The enterprise can no longer give funds to the city’s general fund under Issue 300. Maybe I am missing something, but it appears the enterprise exists to support downtown?

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