By taking over the Cinergy Field parking facilities from the city and turning them over to a private operator, Hamilton County has boosted significantly the lots' profits, county officials said today.

County officials spoke glowingly about Central Parking Services of Ohio, both because of the increased profits - anticipated to be $4.14 million this year, up from $2.4 million in 1995, when city employees ran it - and the friendliness of workers at the lots. Commissioners today approved a renewal to the county's contract with Central Parking.

County Budget Director Suzanne Burke said that back in 1995 when the city operated the lot, the gross receipts were $4.5 million, but operating costs were $2.1 million, for a net profit of $2.4 million. This year, gross receipts will be an estimated $5.7 million, she said, with a profit of $4.1 million. That's up from a net profit of $3.9 million last year.

"A lot of that is the city used to allocate a lot of administrative overhead to the parking operations," Ms. Burke said.

"We've been very pleased, not only with their financial performance" but also with the customer service, she said. She noted the garage sometimes offers parkers soft drinks on hot days and hot coffee on cold days.

"We said from the beginning, to the extent we could privatize operations, we felt that was the way to go," Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus said.

He noted employees wear Reds' or Bengals' caps on game days and the traffic-control poles change color from Bengals to the Reds depending on the season.

Copyright 1999 The Cincinnati Post