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City to dissolve Winchester Parking Authority; council asks General Assembly to amend Act
Summary
Council voted Dec. 9 to dissolve the Winchester Parking Authority, move its operations into a city parking enterprise fund, and support a technical amendment to the Parking Authority Act so the city can convey parking property as needed.
Winchester City Council on Dec. 9 approved a resolution to dissolve the Winchester Parking Authority and instruct staff to transfer its assets, liabilities and operations into a city parking enterprise fund.
City Attorney Melissa Michaelson explained the authority dates to 1964 and that current membership had dwindled to a single public representative; the authority itself asked the council to dissolve the corporate board and have the city assume obligations and debt service. Michaelson said the underlying Winchester Parking Authority Act would remain on the books in case the city later wanted to re‑establish an independent authority.
Mary Blow (identified in materials as the finance chair for the authority) and city financial staff presented pro‑forma figures showing current parking revenues cover operations and existing debt service (noting the George Washington garage debt extends through 2037) but warned that taking on additional large debt would strain the enterprise. Staff said the city intends to treat parking as an enterprise fund with dedicated accounting and staff, so “parking should pay for parking.”
Councilors asked about the impact on bond ratings; staff said auditors and financial advisers had reviewed potential impacts and did not expect the dissolution by itself to trigger a negative change to the city’s credit rating.
The council approved the dissolution resolution by voice vote; the transcript does not include a roll‑call tally. Later in the meeting the council also approved a separate, technical resolution asking the General Assembly to amend the Winchester Parking Authority Act to permit the transfer and conveyance of property when the city acts in the authority’s stead.
What happens next: City staff will draft the refunding and conveyance steps needed to transfer the George Washington garage debt into the city name and will work with the General Assembly on the statutory amendment the council supported.
