“I’m fine with moving forward with this and reducing the fees,” he said. The potential impact of fine reduction on the parking authority’s contribution to the city could be a major factor as the city goes into budget season, council President Donna Reed said.Ī 30% reduction in fines could potentially result in an equal reduction in what the parking authority contributes to the city, Councilman Christopher Daubert said. In 2019, the authority board approved a $30.7 million financial package to refinance debt and make capital improvements. However, there is no guarantee the city will receive that amount each year because the agreement acknowledges the authority’s first obligation is to its debt service. Under a three-year cooperation agreement signed in January 2021, the parking authority contributes $1.76 million to the city’s coffers annually. “I have found nothing to support that,” he said. Goodman-Hinnershitz asked Matz if reducing the fines might help increase the collection rate on future violations and result in increased revenue for the parking authority and city. The authority will work out a payment plan for those with significant parking violation debt, Matz said, noting the plans typically waive any penalties. “If you look at what people receive, as far as bills, and what they pay, I am sure that this particular bill gets deep-sixed,” she said. Paying a parking fine is not a high priority for most people struggling to make ends meet, Goodman-Hinnershitz said. Last year, Matz said about $8 million in fines and late fees went uncollected, bringing the authority’s long-term total in outstanding fines and fees to about $25 million. Some of the balance remains uncollected, while some trickles in through the collection process, which can include booting or barnacling a vehicle. The parking authority on average collects about 60% of the fines issued, he said. The amounts are based only on the fines issued, he noted, and do not include any late fees that might accrue. That figure would come to $3.1 million using the adjusted rates. The total amount of fines issued under the previous rates equals $4.5 million, he said. Matz calculated the loss by multiplying the old and new fine amounts by the number of tickets issued in the last 12 months. “It would be a net loss to the parking authority of approximately $1.4 million,” he said.
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