AMHERST — Higher fees for parking permits in downtown Amherst are going into effect, including an adjustment that will make those with vehicles not registered in town pay significantly more for those stickers.
The Town Council approved a series of fee adjustments this week, accompanied by parking regulation changes that, based on projections provided by Finance Director Sean Mangano, would increase revenue from the permits sold by the town.
Under the plan, fees collected from the 825 permits sold annually would more than double from $47,925 this year to $113,420 in 2023. By 2025, revenues would more than triple, to $172,350.
Currently, the 315 residential parking permits are all sold for $25, the same price as the 482 employee permits that are issued for those who work at businesses and town buildings downtown.
Beginning Sept. 1, for those who don’t register their vehicles in town, making up 236 of the 315 residential permits, the fee will go up to $250, and will reach $400 in 2025. By contrast, those with Amherst registrations would see the residential permit fees rise from $25 to $50 in 2023, reaching $150 in 2025.
The adjustments for employee permits are smaller, going from $25 to $35 in 2023, and up to $50 in 2025. These permit increases were intentionally kept low, Mangano said.
Reserved spots, of which there are 28 located in the lower level of the Boltwood parking garage, are currently $1,000, and will go to $1,200 beginning July 1, and then $1,500 in 2025.
While all councilors agreed with the adjustments, the final plan, one that had been endorsed by the Town Services and Outreach Committee, only received an 8-5 vote in support, with the divide focused on how quickly the price increases should be made.
District 1 Councilor Michele Miller said she is uncomfortable with sharp increases too quickly without knowing the financial abilities of those who would be affected.
“I still do have concerns about such a steep hike for the nonresident registrants,” Miller said.
Miller was joined in her vote to support the more gradual implementation by District 5 Councilors Shalini Bahl-Milne and Ana Devlin Gauthier, District 4 Councilors Anika Lopes and Pam Rooney, District 3 Councilors Dorothy Pam and Jennifer Taub and At-Large Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke.
Rooney said too quick an adjustment could have people not getting permits and then parking on streets that are not part of the parking system. “I’d rather have a slow incremental process to see all the impact of this,” Rooney said.
Devlin Gauthier said she worries about backlash on town staff for the increases. “It’s not a known implication, but it’s a possible one,” Devlin Gauthier said.
Opposing the gradual implementation, and seeking a faster increase in fees, was District 1 Councilor Cathy Schoen, alongwith District 2 Councilors Pat DeAngelis and Lynn Griesemer and At-Large Councilors Andy Steinberg and Ellisha Walker. A more immediate change could encourage more people, including those who live in new downtown mixed-use buildings, to have their cars registered in town, meaning Amherst could also collect excise taxes from them.
“There are towns such as Lowell that do not allow you to have a residential parking permit unless you have a registration that is local,” Schoen said.
Schoen said changing registration is not hard. “This sends a signal that if you’re a longtime resident — just register your car,” Schoen said.
Steinberg said the town should provide an incentive to register in town and more immediate support for the transportation fund that supports the parking system.
“I worry that we’re losing sight of the revenue side of this,” Steinberg said.
Walker said her only suggestion is that the town offer a sliding scale and other ways to help those who might not be able to fit the added fees into their budget.
Mangano said the town has considered hardship, though this could be complicated because many of the permit holders are local college students.
Under the original plan, Mangano said, the town manager would have authority to make changes and adjustments to the fees. But this was changed to require bringing any changes before the council.
Rooney said she would like the council to have the right to set and then reset fees. “I think maintaining management of that by the council is probably a good thing,” Rooney said.
