Virginia Beach, Va. - The Oceanfront's modern parking meters take credit cards and, of course, coins, lots of coins. One guy brought a coin jar to enjoy a beach afternoon.
They'll soon get more expensive. The parking rates, and parking tickets, could soon cost more.
Virginia Beach leaders say to run this city in the next fiscal year it will cost almost $2 billion. That's $50 million more than it cost last year. They'll vote on a budget tomorrow that gathers some of that extra money from boosting fees and taxes, even just a few cents.
The real-estate tax rate is staying the same, but home values went up. That means your tax bill will rise. Plus, personal-property taxes are also going up a few cents, so you'll pay more tax on your car. You'll also pay a few dollars more for the rainwater that washes off your property and into the drains.
And some fire inspections for businesses will cost more. If fire inspectors need to make extra trips, you'll pay a lot more for that.
Megan Rivera says if Virginia Beach is your home, you shouldn't pay the same parking fees as the tourists. And we had to tell her one of the breaks she gets -- discounted evening parking for Virginia Beach residents -- won't be as discounted any more. Locals will pay an extra buck to park.
By tomorrow, it could be just a little more expensive to call this city home.
