Bay Shore is the only Long Island hamlet with downtown parking meters, which has raised questions as to what the funds were used for. To allay concerns, the Chamber of Commerce made a Freedom of Information request, and was stunned to find out the hamlet has taken in almost $1 million since the meters were installed.
Caroline Smith, speaking on behalf of the town, said the money from the meters is placed in the general fund, and then pays for Bay Shore improvements that might not have been possible otherwise. Several of these were made at the Long Island Rail Road’s station, where sprinklers and new security cameras were installed, and paving work was completed. Improvements at the depot and along the waterfront promenade cost about $90,000. She also pointed out that over half of the parking downtown is free.
In 2016-2017, more than $900,000 in revenue came from the program with the town spending approximately $440,000 in 2017. From January to November 1, 2017, $579,000 in revenue was collected, while the program cost $350,000 to run, allotting $220,000 for parking management.
Mike McElwee, who owns a restaurant in Bay Shore, seems to have expressed a common feeling, that the money being fed into Bay Shore’s meters should remain in town.
Matters like this are of wide interest, so officials might consider working with a newsletter or flyer printing company to produce a mailer updating residents.
