Pt. Pleasant may increase parking rates

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J. (AP) — The Jersey Shore town of Point Pleasant Beach is considering a big parking fee increase to help balance the budget.

Officials there are talking about a system that would charge $1.50 an hour to park on any public street. The rates would be in effect round-the-clock form March 1 through Oct. 31. Payment in some areas would be done over the phone via credit card instead of using parking meters.

Permanent residents would get five free permits, and season residents would get one. Last year, angry residents defeated a plan to make them pay for permits.

The town says the plan would raise $1 million a year and take a big chunk out of a projected $1.5 million budget shortfall this year.