$2.5 million budget deficit: Milwaukee Co. officials consider charging $1/hour to park along lakefront

MILWAUKEE -- Starting in the summer of 2017, you may have to pay to walk along Milwaukee's lakefront. Milwaukee County officials are considering charging

The lakefront's beaches, paths and parks attract thousands every day -- especially during the summer.

"I know they developed the trails along here, so we wanted to see what it`s like," Dan Hill said.

"It`s been a social gathering where that the community can come together," Michael White said.

"Anybody who`s been on (Lincoln) Memorial (Drive) on a hot summer day knows it gets pretty crazy," Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said.

Abele is hoping to cash in on the traffic.

As part of his 2017 budget proposal, he wants to charge drivers $1/hour to park along streets like Lincoln Memorial Drive and at locations like the North Point parking lot.

Currently, parking is free.

"If we can charge less than anyone else, less than the city`s charging for parking, and generate more than $1 million a year and put that back into parks, we`re definitely going to look at that," Abele said.

The money will help fill the Parks Department $2.5 million budget deficit.

"One of the issues we have is the cost of pensions, the cost of healthcare, not for active employees, but for retirees goes up," Abele said.

"We`d be conscientious about 'oh, do we have money? Is it coins? Do we have credit cards?'" White said.

"We're from out o f town. It seems like we gotta support the trails in some way," Hill said.

Abele said he's open to suggestions from the public.

"Would you prefer to pay more in fees? Would you prefer to pay more in taxes, cutting services?" Abele said.

If you'd like to weigh in, there will be a public input session on the proposed budget Wednesday evening, August 10th at the Washington Park Senior Center -- from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 4420 W. Vliet Street.