Tracy Hodel, St. Cloud public services director, said the city's parking meter enterprise fund is running in the red and that's why the increases were approved.

"The enterprise fund should be able to pay for itself," Hodel said. "But we have not been able to do that for the past several years, and this will allow us to hopefully get back to at least being able to pay for the maintenance of the parking enterprise program."

The total dollar amount of the parking program is a little more than $2 million annually, and the city said all of its ramps and lot spaces are pretty much full.

Quish Turner said she is concerned about the 10 percent increase in the monthly ramp permits.

"It is a tough call because I need to park downtown, but 10 percent is significant for anyone," said Turner. "And right now most of these lots and ramps are full, and if I pull out then, I have to run and plug a street meter all the time."

The parking rate increases take effect April 1.