Parking Permits to Cost More Soon

Those who purchase parking permits from the borough will soon see an increase in the yearly fees they pay.

An ordinance passed unanimously in the consent agenda on Monday night will increase those fees by $25 for commuter, merchant, and tenant parking starting next year. It takes effect on Jan. 1, 2011.

This means that resident commuters who were currently paying $400 a year will be paying $425. Merchant and tenant parking has been raised to $225, while non-residential commuters will have to pay $850.

One of the reasons the merchant and tenant parking cost is so much lower than commuter parking, according to Borough Administrator Ray Codey, is there is not as much demand, with there currently not being a waiting list for such permits.

Considering there are 52 weeks in a year, and five business days in a week, the $25 increase ends up being about 10 cents more per business day.

The increase is scheduled to hold for two years, as the resolution was for 2011 and 2012.

Codey said the lag between the approval and institution of the fees allows for the police department to print new stickers and make people aware of the change before it takes effect.

Council President Jeannie Tsukamoto said the increase will garner the borough about $12,000 per year based on current parking permit numbers.

The resolution states that Police Chief John Trevena has recommended the borough adopt the resolution to set the parking permit fees.