To help meet a $16.1 million budget shortfall, city officials agreed last week to raise the cost of most parking tickets issued by the City of Santa Monica.
“The rates that are proposed are excessive.” — Councilman Bob Holbrook, who cast the sole dissenting vote against the increases said
Now, for example, parking in a “preferential” spot will cost $47 instead of $38. That’s right, nearly 50 bucks. The fee for an expired meter is set to go from $28 to $35.
There are more than 50 types of parking violations in Santa Monica and the city controls the fee levels for 30 of them. The increases are expected to generate $2.2 million for city coffers.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 24, 2003. Read the original PDF.