Williamsport Parking Authority adopted a $1.4 million operating budget Wednesday night and plans to begin long delayed maintenance and repairs of surface lots and other capital projects starting next spring.
Last year's budget was $931,000, with an actual use of $1 million.
A cash reserve of $354,509 will be used toward the deferred maintenance and projects the authority wants to begin next year and continue over a three-year period, said Dr. Anthony Cipolla, authority chairman.
The budget does not include any planned parking rate increases that were last done in summer 2011.
William E. Nichols Jr., director of city finance, has estimated about $500,000 in projects are expected to be done over that period with help from River Valley Transit to pay all project costs.
The surplus is the result of collecting from additional customers using the Church Street parking garage and from increasing on-lot and garage rates in 2011.
Another issue facing the authority is where to find enough parking spaces downtown with the planned razing of the Mid-Town Parking Garage on West Third Street in the spring.
One idea discussed at the meeting was a proposed "bump-up" lot positioned on the parking lot outside the Blue Cross building near William Street.
"Bump-up" lots can be built within a matter of weeks compared to those that have foundations of concrete and require months.
They can be assembled and disassembled as needed and are used in areas around metropolitan New York City. Their purpose is to provide space for parking that is elevated with two to four decks.
The transition of the YMCA block, known as Destination 2014, also may include parking elements of Trade and Transit II, Nichols said.
Nichols said he is presently pursuing state Redevelopment Capital Assistance grants for the Trade and Transit II and Destination 2014 project.
