mmaroney@sungazette.com
Williamsport Parking Authority needs to see a return of individuals shopping, dining and going to entertainment downtown.
“We need people back into downtown,” said Tony Nardi, a member of the authority board which met Wednesday night.
The COVID-19 pandemic and a brutal winter with repeated snow removal obligations has negatively impacted revenue.
“We’re still struggling with revenue due to COVID,” said Todd Wright, of River Valley Transit, an authority management partner.
The authority has a budget of $1 million, but is about $8,735 in the hole at this point, Wright said. It has a $200,000 balance, he said.
Down from last year at this time were ticket collections and monthly permit parking receipts.
mmaroney@sungazette.com
Williamsport Parking Authority has seen a drop in revenue due to the impact of COVID-19 on businesses downtown, officials there said.
At their first meeting of the year held by remote due to a surge in the virus, the authority discussed the under performance of the year and how to combat it going into the months ahead.
“We’re struggling, as are all parking authorities, because we did not receive any federal coronavirus taxpayer money,” said Dr. Anthony Cipolla, authority chairman at the meeting held by telephone and Zoom to protect individuals from a surge seen in viral cases across the city and region.