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SALES TAX CHANGES MEAN HIKE IN TOMS RIVER PARKING RATES
By Jo Ann La Russo
 | | Reactions to increases in the township parking rates were less than positive. |
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Fees at the Dover Township Municipal parking deck went up this week, as a result of a seven percent sales tax that went into effect on October 1, according to officials.
Parking rates for the top level of parking deck, behind town hall at 33 Washington Street, doubled, rising from 25 cents an hour to 25 cents a half-hour. Fees at the deck's bottom level rose from 25 to 30 cents per half hour.
Dover Township rates at the Toms River Park and Ride lot at the township's bus terminal will remain at $2 for 24 hours.
Dover Township Parking Authority chairman William Clegg addressed the mayor and council this week about the newly implemented rate change in an effort to explain the rate hike to residents.
"No agency likes to raise costs," Clegg told council members. "We are forced to make this rate hike because of the new state sales tax.". State sales tax rose from six to seven percent this year in an effort to resolve the state budget crises, imposing the sales tax on some goods and services that had previously not been taxed, explained Clegg.
"Municipal government is not exempt from the seven percent sales tax," said Clegg. "Because of that some types of public parking will now be subject to the sales tax."
Parking Authority officials say that municipalities and parking enforcement agencies throughout New Jersey were stunned to learn that the newly implemented seven percent sales tax included parking. Previously, no tax had been levied on parking at all, meaning the Authority had to make up the whole seven percent.
Clegg estimated that the cost to recalibrate each pay-per-space machine located in the parking garages at $500. There are a total of three machines at the parking deck. The cost of recalibrating the two machines at Toms River Park & Ride facility were $700 each.
"We make no money on this sales tax," said Clegg. "We don't want to raise the fees ... We were forced to."
Council president Gregory McGuckin told the more than 100 residents at the meeting that the State has mandated the tax on the Parking Authority, and the Authority is responsible for its collection as of October 1.
"Trenton said that the Dover Township Parking Authority must collect the seven percent sales tax," said McGuckin. "We're the ones who provide the services," the council president said. "This is ridiculous."
Street metered parking is available throughout the downtown area, and the on street parking rates will not change, said Clegg.
Drivers who use the top level lot must pay when they park their vehicles, using a machine located at the entrance of the lot. Exact change is needed.
The bottom level of the deck, which has 40 spaces and is open to the general public, has two machines.
The middle level of the parking deck is off limits completely to the general public. It's reserved for Dover Township vehicles and municipal employees only.
Parking decals can be purchased at the Parking Authority office in Town Hall, at 33 Washington Street. The decals are available for a number of lots. Free parking is available at the Ocean County Parking deck, on Hooper Avenue, with entrance on Hadley and Madison streets.
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