Rehoboth Beach considers continuing Meterless Mondays in 2021

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. – Rehoboth Beach is considering continuing their Meterless Mondays during the summer of 2021. But Mayor Stan Mills says the city’s budget needs to be figured out first so they can determine whether continuing the program is a good idea. “It’s part of our formula of how much we can afford to lose to help our downtown area survive,” said Mayor Mills.

Mayor Mills says during 2020, Meterless Mondays cost the city about $70,000 in revenue. But he says it did help bring people into town and support local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’ve gotten favorable responses from all the stakeholders. They’re enjoying one evening a week without having to pay parking meters. It benefited businesses, but it was also enjoyed by visitors who came into town for that evening,” said Mayor Mills.

Mayor Mills says the city is now working to find a balance between supporting local business and losing money. “We want to sacrifice a little bit to try to boost the business in town, because we recognize that for the greater health of the community over all we need businesses successful,” said Mayor Mills.

Mayor Mills adds that the city is also already planning for post-pandemic life. He says that includes possibly expanding opportunities for businesses and restaurants to use their outdoor spaces for dining and shopping. In the meantime, the city’s commissioners will meet on January 4th to go over the budget.