MYRTLE BEACH, SC- Drivers heading to the beach will have to pay more for public parking. Myrtle Beach City Council recently voted to raise the rates.
Council decided on a three tier rate structure that prices parking based on location.
Tier 1- Rates at beach accesses – increase from $1.50 an hour, or $8 a day, to $2 an hour and $10 a day.
Tier 2- Rates at on-street, high volume areas- increase from $1.50 to $1.75 an hour with a three-hour maximum parking time.
Tier 3- Includes all other parking meters, which currently range in price from 75 cents to $1.25 an hour or $6 a day- increase to $1.50 an hour or $8 a day.
Funding from public parking goes to the Downtown Redevelopment Corporation. Executive Director David Sebok said the group collected around $1.1 million in 2014. He expects an additional $300,000 this year.
“We have to pay for expenses out of that, so that’s not all profit unfortunately,” said Sebok.
According to Sebok, the majority of funding is put towards street scape and maintenance.
“The bathrooms cost us $60,000 a year to maintain the three public bathrooms,” he said.
Sebok told News 13 he plans to use the increased funding for actual redevelopment projects in the south mixed use area.
“Working with property owners and business to get them to improve their properties or re-develop their properties.”
After researching other areas similar to Myrtle Beach, Sebok determined the city could charge more.
Under the new rate structure, Myrtle Beach will charge $2.00/hour for parking at beach accesses. However, the increased amount is still less than Fort Lauderdale and Wrightsville Beach.
“Nobody likes to pay for parking but it’s a necessary evil, it’s a fact of life,” said Sebok.
Visitors could also see an increase in citation fees. Next Tuesday, City Council will vote on an ordinance to increase parking meter violations from $20 to $30. In addition, the proposal states that any person, who doesn’t pay the fine within 30 days, will have to pay an additional $30.
