Rehoboth and Bethany parking fees on the rise

The joys of the ocean are priceless, but protecting and successfully managing visitors, not so much.

That's why the town of Bethany Beach is increasing street parking to $1.75 this year. The decision, made when the FY 2016 budget was approved this March, will help the city pay for additional services associated with visitors, Councilman Jerry Dorfman said.

"We're trying to keep up with what is happening and there are costs to that," Dorfman said. "We're getting to the point where our costs for summer are trumping out costs for lifeguards, clean-up and the various other chores we have."

The town has increased the number of lifeguards, he added, in response to an increase in rip-current related injuries and deaths in Ocean City. That means more money is needed, and a parking increase will help them increase their summertime income.

"We're not trying to make money, we're trying to cover our costs," Dorfman said.

Weekly and monthly permits also increased about 16 percent, he said.

In Rehoboth Beach officials made a similar change for a different reason. When approving the FY 2016 budget City Manager Sharon Lynn told commissioners more than 90 multi-space meters in the city needed replacing, costing more than $350,000.

To raise money for that cost, parking will increase from $1.50 an hour to $2 an hour. Daily permits will increase $2.

Parking permit fees had not increased since 2008, Lynn said.

Commissioner Kathy McGuiness said she hadn't heard negative feedback so far from the business community. The increase was necessary, she said, to pay for things like parking which helps bring people to town.

"You got to keep the beaches clean, safe and fun, and we got to keep the meter heads functioning to have people come to town to enjoy our businesses," she said. "It's still the cheapest thing you're going to do in Rehoboth."