People could soon have to pay to park along Milwaukee's lakefront.The Milwaukee County parks system is facing a $2.5 million budget shortfall next year, and some proposals to close the gap would take away free parking on the lakefront and charge a vehicle registration fee.VIDEO: Milwaukee County proposes pay-to-park to raise more moneyWith higher costs and less revenue, the county executive said he has to find a way to bring in more cash.Charging for parking on the lakefront would deliver about $1.5 million to Milwaukee County."I hate to hit the average working guy when he wants to take his family out to the park for just a couple hours on the beach," said David Mass, who visits the lakefront.Joe Harris and his family love to go to the lakefront to relax. Harris said he'd be willing to pay a few bucks to park."It's a big attraction. A lot of people like coming to swim and stuff, so I think it's a good idea. I don't think bad, nothing about it," Harris said."Either it's raising revenue or it's cutting services," Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said.That's why Abele said he's looking for new ways to bring in cash. He's holding listening sessions where taxpayers gather in small groups to ask questions and present ideas.Abele said the county can't keep selling land to pay the rising cost of healthcare and retirement benefits. Charging a vehicle registration fee is also on the table."A vehicle registration fee could generate a lot, and we're getting less now for transit from Madison than we did five years ago. And at some point, we're going to need something," Abele said.The price tags, if the Milwaukee County board agreed to the new fees, would be $1 an hour for parking and around $40 to register a car each year.If anyone would like to give their opinion on proposed budget fixes, there's a listening session at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Washington Park Senior Center.

People could soon have to pay to park along Milwaukee's lakefront.



The Milwaukee County parks system is facing a $2.5 million budget shortfall next year, and some proposals to close the gap would take away free parking on the lakefront and charge a vehicle registration fee.



Advertisement Related Content County residents express displeasure over lakefront parking proposal

VIDEO: Milwaukee County proposes pay-to-park to raise more money

With higher costs and less revenue, the county executive said he has to find a way to bring in more cash.



Charging for parking on the lakefront would deliver about $1.5 million to Milwaukee County.



"I hate to hit the average working guy when he wants to take his family out to the park for just a couple hours on the beach," said David Mass, who visits the lakefront.



Joe Harris and his family love to go to the lakefront to relax. Harris said he'd be willing to pay a few bucks to park.



"It's a big attraction. A lot of people like coming to swim and stuff, so I think it's a good idea. I don't think bad, nothing about it," Harris said.



"Either it's raising revenue or it's cutting services," Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said.



That's why Abele said he's looking for new ways to bring in cash. He's holding listening sessions where taxpayers gather in small groups to ask questions and present ideas.



Abele said the county can't keep selling land to pay the rising cost of healthcare and retirement benefits. Charging a vehicle registration fee is also on the table.



"A vehicle registration fee could generate a lot, and we're getting less now for transit from Madison than we did five years ago. And at some point, we're going to need something," Abele said.



The price tags, if the Milwaukee County board agreed to the new fees, would be $1 an hour for parking and around $40 to register a car each year.



If anyone would like to give their opinion on proposed budget fixes, there's a listening session at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Washington Park Senior Center.

