As if Portland wasn't already pricing out some of its hardest working citizens, the city is set to raise the hourly rate on parking meters starting July 1. The City of Portland will raise the hourly rate from $1 to $1.25 per hour.

While the increase looks minimal, many workers count on those meters as an alternative to higher priced parking garages and lots. Beyond workers, businesses, like restaurants, need the prices for meters to stay reasonable to attract customers to an already crowded food service market.

Will a 25-cent increase really damage that? Unlikely. But as the prices continue to go up in Portland, you've begun to see new businesses pop up in surrounding towns where everything from rent, to parking, is cheaper. As it stands now, Portland is only raising the meter fees and not parking violation fees, which is a relief to some.

Will this rate increase affect how you park in Portland?

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