Bel Air parking fund projected $140,000 gap; officials discuss leases, fees and long‑term fixes

Lisa, a town finance staff member, told the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on May 13 that the town’s parking enterprise fund is projected to run a shortfall in the coming fiscal year and recommended further study of policy changes to address the gap.

“We are anticipating again this year, expenses to exceed revenues by a hundred and $40,000,” Lisa said during the budget work session, summarizing the fund outlook and prompting a broad discussion of causes and possible responses.

Why it matters: the parking enterprise fund operates like a business under the town’s accounting rules; continuing deficits reduce retained earnings that the fund uses for operations and capital. Staff said the fund had about $1.7 million in retained earnings at the end of FY2024, but repeated annual losses are drawing…