Montgomery County, MD, is cutting its budget and as a result, parking facilities are going unwashed. And it appears you can tell the difference. Read about it here. I just wonder if this is the proper place to save. These 18 garages are income generators. If people decide it’s too dirty to park in the garages and go elsewhere, the problem gets worse.
I don’t know how they allocate funds in Maryland but my guess is that these garages generate a lot of cash for the county budget. By allowing the garages to slip in their cleaning, what’s next – maintenance – security – lighting. There are few assets that governments own that actually GENERATE excess cash for the city. In fact parking is one of the few.
The private sector knows that it reduces services to its customers at its peril. The garages are running at 87% capacity (wow, not bad). Are they at risk of that 87% becoming 80%? I know if I have a choice of parking in a garage smelling of urine or a clean, well lit one, I know where I’m going to go.
The public sector needs to look at parkers as valued customers, and treat them as such.
JVH
