Pennsylvania Taxpayers Stuck With $4.2 Million Parking Tab for State Employees

By: Jim Panyard | August 07, 2013

Like many northeastern cities, Harrisburg has a severe parking problem — unless you are one of about 3,200 state employees whose parking costs are picked up by state taxpayers.

The little-known benefit was picked up by the Harrisburg Patriot-News in an article concerning the capital city’s manifest financial woes and its attempt to get out of state receivership.

The Department of General Services rents 3,200 parking spaces at garages near the Capitol Building for some state employees. There are also 885 parking spots on two levels under the East Wing of the Capitol that are free to 253 state lawmakers, various cabinet officials, gubernatorial staff, and other dignitaries or friends of dignitaries.

The misnomer that parking under the Capitol is “free” was dispelled in a June 2011 editorial by Brooks Mountcastle, a failed candidate for the House of Representatives, pointing out taxpayers paid for the construction of the facility and continue to pay for security and maintenance.

Mountcastle suggested those using the Capitol parking facility pay $135 per month, a typical fee for parking in the city’s garages — unless, of course, you are one of the fortunate 3,200 individuals parking on the taxpayer’s dime. There has been little movement to charge for Capitol parking in the two years since Mountcastle’s article appeared.

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