Council infrastructure general manager Stavros Michael said revenue was collected from parking meters, meter hood purchases, annual car park rentals and infringements.
"However, figures from tickets issued don't accurately reflect revenue gained because unpaid tickets are eventually prosecuted through the court system and payment is often drip fed over a period of time that can be up to several years.
"In some cases tickets can be waived, meaning the revenue is never collected."
He said the council was considering proposals for a potential partnership arrangement for parking services in Rotorua "which would result in cost efficiencies".
The central city has more than 3570 parks, including more than 500 metered and pay-and-display parks. The highest demand is between 9am and 5pm and the average length of stay is 26 minutes.
During the hours of highest demand occupancy in most parts of the inner city was between 40 and 50 per cent, while in areas of high demand occupancy was between 70 and 80 per cent.
The figures also revealed the five most ticketed streets in Rotorua were, unsurprisingly, in the CBD.
One Pukuatua St business owner believes the layout of car parks in the CBD and the time allocations need an overhaul.
Craig Elliott from House of Elliott said the mix of 15-minute and one-, two- and three-hour parks did not help his clients.
"If I have someone come in for a cut and colour, they need either a three- or a four-hour park," he said. "And there's not enough of either.
"I believe people are happy to pay to park for the longer times but there is an inability for them to do so."
He said it was as frustrating for shoppers as it was for business owners. "These people are coming into the CBD to shop local and getting penalised for it. They're not allowing them enough time to do what they want to do. We need a better mix of the longer parks as opposed to the 15-minute ones."
He said issues with parking "may force us to move our enterprise out of the CBD".
Expired meters and exceeding free-parking limits came in at three and four in the top five infringement types - with cars with no registration or warrant of fitness at the top of the list.
Rotorua police say they are fully supportive of the role council and parking wardens play.
"Any activity that brings attention to unlicensed and unwarranted vehicles helps us out," Rotorua police crime prevention manager Inspector Stuart Nightingale said.
"These vehicles shouldn't be on the road.
"Warrant of fitness checks are, in my view, critical for the safety of all road users. Parking wardens have an important job to do and we support them very closely."
Most ticketed streets
1.Pukuatua St
2.Tutanekai St
3.Eruera St
4.Hinemoa St
5.Arawa St
Top five infringement types
1.No registration
2.No Warrant of Fitness
3.Time expired on meter
4.Free parking time limit exceeded
5.Failure to display card for pay and display parks