Photo by Andreas Pelekis for The Lafayette
The City of Easton has already faced limited parking spot availability, amid population growth in the city.
Citing the need for a balanced budget, Easton City Council voted to increase garage and metered parking prices at its Jan. 14 meeting.
Centre Square meter costs increased from $2 to $3 an hour, with a newly implemented two-hour parking limit. In addition to increased hourly fees for on-street meters, various lots and garages throughout Easton now cost between $2.50 to $3 an hour, with a two to three-hour time limit.
The decision to increase parking fees was largely due to a $1.5 million budget shortfall, explained Frank Pintabone, a councilman for the city of Easton.
“The biggest driver was health insurance for our employees went up 20% for 2026, almost a million dollars,” he said.
Over 70% of the revenue from the parking meters comes from non-residents, according to Pintabone.
The council’s vote was unanimous, despite Mayor Sal Panto Jr.’s disagreement with the plan.
“I think the price of the parking in the garage is way too high, and I know that our parking studies show that the garage should be cheaper than it is to park on the street,” Panto said. “If you want to park on the street, you should pay more. And I was against it.”
“I gave the city council a balanced budget that did not include that parking increase, and they voted to put it on because they had to fill a gap that they created by spending more money,” he continued.
During the council discussions before the parking vote, Pintabone explained that although the public was kept in the loop, “no one spoke out against it.”
Over a dozen city residents and Lafayette College students approached by The Lafayette did not respond to requests for comment, or declined.