Summertime could bring additional Arlington government staff to hunt for expired (or never-paid-at-all) parking meters.
The county’s Department of Environmental Services (DES) has proposed the addition of three new traffic-safety-specialist positions, plus an additional supervisor.
A recent analysis concluded that “many of our parkers were not paying,” DES director Greg Emanuel told County Board members at a March 12 work session. Which suggests the additional personnel could pay for themselves.
(If the additional positions are approved by County Board members, “we will observe what happens,” Emanuel said, and refine as needed.)
Parking-meter revenue this year is estimated to be about 75 percent of pre-pandemic levels, and is expected to rise to 80 percent in the fiscal year that begins July 1. As part of the budget plan, total meter revenue is expected to rise modestly – about $130,000 in a total revenue stream of about $9.5 million.
