Several members of the community attended a special parking meeting convened by the City of Great Falls on Monday evening to address the financial challenges confronting the downtown parking program. According to municipal documents, the program is currently experiencing a monthly deficit ranging from $15,000 to $20,000, which, without corrective measures, is projected to exceed $100,000 in losses by January 2026.
Among the proposals discussed was an increase in on-street parking rates, which could rise from $1.00 to $1.50 per hour, representing a 50% increase. Additional proposals included raising permit prices and increasing garage fees, changes that would significantly impact downtown visitors, employees, and small businesses.
The proposed amendments to the fine structure are considerable. For instance, under the proposed guidelines, fines for a fourth parking violation could increase from $20 to $75, while fines for improper parking could rise from $20 to $50.
Furthermore, the city considered the discontinuation of its long-standing free holiday parking period from December 15 to December 28, which, Brock Cherry reported, would result in an estimated $10,000 loss in revenue. The commissioners voted to continue this free parking period.
During the meeting, residents and downtown business owners shared their opinions and proposed solutions.
After considerable deliberation, the commissioners resolved to temporarily adopt a modified version of Option 1, which entails retaining SP+ for the next five months while adjusting parking fees and fines to stabilize the escalating deficit. Under this arrangement, SP+ will continue to manage parking operations until the end of May, during which time the Parking Advisory Commission, in collaboration with downtown businesses and residents, will formulate a long-term proposal. This long-term plan is required to be presented to the city by April 30, 2026.
By Karen Anderson: December 2, 2025 – Great Falls, Mt
Author: Karen Anderson
Karen is the Editor-in-Chief overseeing all news operations at Foxys Publishing Co. She also loves photography and spending time with her dogs.
