Mayor Crosby recently responded to a question about CBD parking: 'If the parking meters were taken out of Tauranga then the lost revenue would have to be made up from increased rates to pay for car parking land acquisitions, paying off current and future car parking buildings to which the parking revenue is applied to.”
I assume that he is not aware of the details of the staff treatment of Parking revenue.
In round numbers, over the last four years the Parking Revenue account has collected $18.7 million.
Take out $8.0m operating costs, $4.5m finance and depreciation and $1.3m allocated costs (whatever they are) and the account is already down to $4.9m.
The Parking Account then kindly contributed $1.2m to subsidise the buses and transferred $1.7m to Roading Activity to help fund citywide projects encouraging sustainable transport e.g. walking and cycling.
So from the original $18.7m collected over 4 years we are left with $2 staying within Parking to fund future years and repay debt etc. Not a lot 'to pay for car parking acquisitions, current and future car parking buildings” is it?
Allan Gifford, Tauranga.

Mayor Crosby responds:
I acknowledge Mr. Gifford's comments and are very much aware of the details of how off street and on street parking in the CBD was acquired and funded over many years.
The fact remains that if we are to pay back loans that funded the acquisition of land and parking buildings, maintain parking facilities, fund depreciation, build more off street car parking, and consider reducing or removing user pays parking revenue both off and on street, then that will have to be made up by rate funding in some shape or form.
I am open to a discussion on options regarding this issue and in the next three months will support a number of initiatives that are soon to be released that will support the CBD.
Stuart Crosby, Mayor.