Portland officials are considering a plan to expand metered parking by one hour and add Sunday hours as part of a broader goal to encourage more people to use city-owned parking garages and other modes of transit.

They don’t expect everyone to be happy about the changes.

City Manager Danielle West’s proposed budget for next year includes extending metered parking for an additional hour to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and beginning enforcement on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

According to staff, the proposal would add about $900,000 in revenue to the city’s parking division, which would hire an additional full-time employee to accommodate the change. With an increase in operational expenses, the net for the city would be roughly $700,000.

During a finance committee meeting last week, councilors appeared to support the proposal despite acknowledging that the addition of Sundays will be unpopular.

Mayor Mark Dion said he’s already been hearing from constituents about the plan, and said the city should conduct more education and outreach regarding its program that makes parking more affordable for downtown employees.

“Losing Sunday parking is going to be a tough one,” he said.

Councilor April Fournier, who chairs the committee, said she supports the proposal, especially as the warmer months bring in more visitors. She said while there will “certainly be some growing pains for those who have enjoyed free parking on Sundays,” the decision meets Portland’s broader goals of being less reliant on cars.

Tony Wirkus, director of the city’s parking division, said the budget would keep rates at the city’s garages flat in an effort to encourage more people to use them. Officials hope the financial incentive could help adjust public behavior that clearly prefers on-street parking.

Councilor Wes Pelletier said that while it might be controversial, he’s OK with adding the extra metered hours.

“It’s not a cash grab, because right now this is very much a money-losing proposition for the city,” he said.

Most meters in Portland are $2 per hour, while the downtown area bounded by Middle, Pearl, Commercial and Union streets are $2.50 per hour.

City staff reminded officials of Portland Downtown’s “Park & Work” program, a partnership with the city that offers discounted parking rates in garages for low- to moderate-income employees.

Last year, the program increased income eligibility from 50% to 80% of the area median income, and extended a parking time limit from six to nine hours. The program uses a QR code system where eligible workers can park for up to nine hours a day at half price, for a total of $18.

Cary Tyson, executive director of Portland Downtown, said the organization has not taken a formal stand on the parking meter plan, but said one challenge facing the city is a lack of real-time information about parking availability.

Tyson believes Portland should use modern technology to show which garages have space available, and that digital signage updated in real-time “would be very beneficial to those looking for parking.”

Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce President Quincy Hentzel said businesses are concerned about proposals that make it more expensive or difficult for customers and employees to access downtown.

In the long run, the strongest way to grow city revenue is through economic development and continued investment in Portland’s business community,” she said.

With the council nearing a vote on next year’s budget, it’s unclear whether the full council will support the changes.

Councilor Anna Bullett said Monday that she’s wary of adding Sundays if the net revenue gained isn’t significant.

“Sunday is not everyone’s day off but it is a day schools are closed and American cities have a long tradition of waiving meter fees on Sundays and holidays,” she said.

The City Council will conduct a public hearing and first reading on next year’s $363 million budget on May 18, with the council scheduled to vote on the budget June 1.

The estimated property tax rate in Portland for fiscal year 2027 is $12.58 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, a 4.2% increase from this year.

A homeowner with a property assessed at the median Portland value of $540,000 would see a $324 increase on their tax bill.