ALTA FACES FORGERY AND GRAND THEFT CHARGES. THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO IS CONSIDERING CHARGING MORE FOR PARKING TO HELP WITH THE BUDGET DEFICIT, AND THAT IS DRAWING CRITICISM TONIGHT. KCRA 3’S ANAHITA JAFARY SPOKE WITH RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS ON EDIE. WE CAN PROBABLY GUESS THE REACTIONS. YEAH, IT IS VERY SIMPLE. ALL ACROSS THE BOARD, PEOPLE WERE NOT TOO HAPPY ABOUT THIS, ESPECIALLY THE OPTION THAT HAD PEOPLE MAKING THEM POTENTIALLY SPEND MORE MONEY WHEN IT COMES TO PARKING METERS LIKE THESE. ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO, IT’S NOT JUST THAT THEY’RE IN A LARGE BUDGET HOLE. IT’S ALSO GETTING WORSE. COSTS ARE RISING FASTER THAN REVENUE, SO THEY SAY THEY HAVE TO CUT SPENDING AND RAISE SOME FEES. THE ANSWER IS NOT TO JUST GIVE THEM MORE MONEY TO KEEP THROWING AT THE PROBLEM AND BURNING. THE ANSWER IS TO LEARN HOW TO MANAGE YOUR MONEY CORRECTLY. THE BUDGET DEFICIT SITS AT $66.2 MILLION. HERE ARE SOME OPTIONS THEY’RE CONSIDERING TO CLOSE THAT GAP. INCREASING PARKING METER PRICES. ADDING 200 NEW PARKING METERS, EXTENDING PARKING METER HOURS, AND CREATING FEES FOR RESIDENTIAL PERMIT PARKING. NOT ONLY COULD PRICES GO UP, YOU MAY ALSO SEE MORE PARKING METERS INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THAT’S A BUMMER, BECAUSE THE FACT THAT WE’RE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT, AND YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THEY FIGURED OUT ANOTHER WAY TO FIX THAT, THAT DIDN’T REQUIRE US TO PAY MORE OUT OF POCKET FOR THINGS. SOME PEOPLE NOW QUESTION WHETHER THEY’D EVEN WANT TO GO OUT IN THE CITY. I DON’T THINK IT’S RIGHT, YOU KNOW, TO RAISE PARKING METERS JUST TO MAKE UP A DEFICIT. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME OUT HERE TO TRY AND SPEND MONEY, SO YOU DON’T NEED TO, LIKE, CHARGE MORE MONEY JUST TO PARK. I’D RATHER GO SPEND MY MONEY AT A COFFEE SHOP, AT A THRIFT STORE, OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE. BUT TAKING ON THAT EXTRA COST WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF A DETERRENT FOR ME. MAYBE TO SPEND LESS TIME IN THE CITY OUT AND EXPLORING. WE REACHED OUT TO CITY LEADERS FOR AN INTERVIEW AND THEY DECLINED TO COMMENT. BUT THEY DO SAY THAT THEY’LL BE RELOOKING AT SOME OF THESE PROPOSED CHANGES AGAIN NEXT TUESDAY. LIVE IN SACRAMENTO. I’M ANAHITA JAFARY KCRA THREE NEWS. THANK YOU. WE SHOULD MENTION CITY LEADERS ARE ALSO LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF OTHER OPTIONS TO DIG OUT OF THAT BUDGET DEFICIT, INCLUDING REDUCING
Sacramento residents react to proposed parking fee increases
Sacramento residents express dissatisfaction with the city’s proposal to increase parking fees as a measure to address a $66.2 million budget deficit.
Updated: 10:15 PM PST Feb 27, 2026
Sacramento is considering raising parking fees to address a $66.2 million budget deficit, drawing criticism from residents who are unhappy about the potential increase in costs.The city faces a large budget hole that is worsening, with costs rising faster than revenue, prompting officials to consider cutting spending and raising some fees.”The answer is not to just give them more money to keep throwing out the problem and burning ,” said Matthew Kolbl, a Sacramento resident. “The answer is to learn how to manage our money correctly.”The city is exploring several options to close the budget gap, including increasing parking meter prices, adding 200 new parking meters, extending parking meter hours, and creating fees for residential permit parking.Cameron Anderson, another resident, said, “That’s a bummer, because the fact that we’re the ones who have to pay for that, and, you know, it would be great if they figured out another way to fix that, that didn’t require us to pay more out of pocket for things.”Some residents are questioning whether they would want to visit the city if parking costs increase. Alex Marcu said, “I don’t think it’s right, you know, to raise parking meters just to make up a deficit. You know, people come out here to try and spend money. So you don’t need to, like, charge more money just to park.”Amanda Widgay, who lives in Midtown, said, “I’d rather go spend my money at a coffee shop, at a thrift store, or whatever it may be. But taking on that extra cost would be a little bit of a deterrent for me, maybe to spend less time in the city out and exploring.”City leaders declined to comment on the proposal but will review proposed changes again next Tuesday. They are also considering other options to address the budget deficit, including reducing city services and cutting spending for economic development projects and business promotion.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Sacramento is considering raising parking fees to address a $66.2 million budget deficit, drawing criticism from residents who are unhappy about the potential increase in costs.
The city faces a large budget hole that is worsening, with costs rising faster than revenue, prompting officials to consider cutting spending and raising some fees.
“The answer is not to just give them more money to keep throwing out the problem and burning [money],” said Matthew Kolbl, a Sacramento resident. “The answer is to learn how to manage our money correctly.”
The city is exploring several options to close the budget gap, including increasing parking meter prices, adding 200 new parking meters, extending parking meter hours, and creating fees for residential permit parking.
Cameron Anderson, another resident, said, “That’s a bummer, because the fact that we’re the ones who have to pay for that, and, you know, it would be great if they figured out another way to fix that, that didn’t require us to pay more out of pocket for things.”
Some residents are questioning whether they would want to visit the city if parking costs increase.
Alex Marcu said, “I don’t think it’s right, you know, to raise parking meters just to make up a deficit. You know, people come out here to try and spend money. So you don’t need to, like, charge more money just to park.”
Amanda Widgay, who lives in Midtown, said, “I’d rather go spend my money at a coffee shop, at a thrift store, or whatever it may be. But taking on that extra cost would be a little bit of a deterrent for me, maybe to spend less time in the city out and exploring.”
City leaders declined to comment on the proposal but will review proposed changes again next Tuesday.
They are also considering other options to address the budget deficit, including reducing city services and cutting spending for economic development projects and business promotion.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel