Parking benefit district being proposed for La Crosse neighborhoods

While a paid-parking pilot program for college neighborhoods goes before the La Crosse city council this week, another idea for making drivers pay to park on the street is making the rounds.

It’s called a ‘parking benefit district,’ which was given the OK Monday night by the city’s neighborhood revitalization commission. 

Under this concept, La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat says any money raised through parking within a district would stay in that area, to help finance things that a neighborhood wants.    

Council member Jessica Olson suggested that yearly permits be purchased by drivers in those districts, and that large-item garbage pickup could be a possible use for the proposed parking fees.

Kabat says it’s sort of a coincidence that both ideas are being debated at the same time.

The benefit district idea will go to council committees in February.