sbeveridge@observer-reporter.com
Drivers will need to carry more spare quarters if they want to park their vehicles along a Washington street and stay in the city awhile.
City Council plans to schedule a special meeting within two weeks to act on possibly doubling the parking meter rate, which now is set at 25 cents for a half-hour in most spots. The price to park in a city lot will not change.
"We need to get this moving," Mayor Sonny Spossey said at a Thursday council meeting.
Spossey said he expects there to be complaints about the increase to 25 cents for 15 or 20 minutes to park at a metered spot.
"Somewhere along the line, it helps the city of Washington from outside sources," he said.
The city earned about $8,000 over the past six months from the parking meters.
Spossey said the municipality has more pressing issues than parking rates to contend with, as it faces a financial crisis.
He said he may recommend that council seek financially distressed status under Act 47, the Municipalities Financial Recovery Act, after he determines the extent of the city's deficit by comparing revenues and expenses through June 30.
Municipalities are declared financially distressed under the law and a step away from bankruptcy, Spossey said. The move would allow the state to assist Washington in restructuring its debt and make recommendations for eliminating wasteful spending.
"We're very close to bringing in an outside panel," he said. "They may see things we don't see."