Politics & Government

Sheehan Opposes Proposed State Beach Parking Fee Hikes

The senator is against the hike in state beach fees, which he says would primarily go to the state and the beach parking lot contractors, instead of the host towns.

PROVIDENCE – As part of his budget proposal, Gov. Lincoln Chafee is seeking a hike in beach parking fees, for residents and nonresidents, that is estimated to put an additional $1.3 million in the state’s coffers.

Sen. James C. Sheehan (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown) doesn’t think it’s worth it, if the higher parking fees erode spending by visitors at South County’s other tourist destinations and restaurants.

 “With our economy as fragile as it is, I cannot believe we would take more money out of the pockets of beach-goers, leaving them less money to spend at restaurants and stores that really rely on seasonal, tourist traffic,” Sheehan said. “If a $10 weekday fee instead of a $6 fee keeps someone away from a second trip to the beach that week, we will have lost revenue.”

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“Under the governor’s plan, we may bring in a few more dollars and claim we are addressing the budget problem, but we are going to be creating more problems for many South County businesses. This may not keep the out-of-state visitors away. But if parking fees get too high for many of our state’s residents, who are already paying high prices to gas up to drive to the beach, they will stay away and we will be shooting ourselves in the foot,” Sheehan said. “While I am confident our beaches are not going to care if fewer people are stopping by, I’m sure a lot of restaurants and tourist shops are going to miss those customers.”

Of the $1.9 million in additional revenue that would be generated by hiking the beach parking fees, $1.3 million would be the state’s share and $200,000 would return to the various host communities. The other $367,000, by contract, would go to the contractor that operates the parking lots.

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The proposed fee increases would raise daily fees for residents from the current $6 to $10, the weekend fees from $7 to $14 and the season passes from $30 to $60. Nonresidents’ parking fees would go from $12 to $20 for weekdays, from $14 to $28 for weekends, and from $60 to $120 for season passes.

“The fee hikes proposed by the governor’s administration are just too high, too fast,” Sheehan said. “And, it appears only two entities would benefit – the state and the contractor who operates the lots who will be making $367,000 more for not doing any more or anything different. And though it sounds as if municipalities are going to share an extra $200,000, what they receive from the state will actually be the same since the governor’s budget also proposes lowering the host communities’ share of the fees from 27 percent to 16 percent.”

Sheehan said he is not blind to the state’s financial problems, but doesn’t feel such a hefty jump in parking fees is wise or appropriate. Moreover, he said that any money that accrues from a fee hike should be shared by the state and host communities.

“If the contract with the lot operator needs to be re-negotiated, so be it,” he said. “There is absolutely no sanity in hiking parking fees so that some company can be paid an additional $367,000 for doing nothing more than it is doing now.”

Release courtesy of the General Assembly.


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