Many downtown business owners are scrambling to come up with a plan to avoid higher parking meter fees. After an emotional and heated public hearing and debate on Monday--City Commissioners voted 3 to 2 to increase meter fees and parking tickets. News Channel Five's Kelsey Thomas had more on this controversial decision.

It's just another nail in the coffin for downtown Great Falls. That's how one resident describes the new rate changes. Sixteen people spoke out against the proposal to increase parking meter fees from 25 cents to 50 cents an hour. Mayor Dona Stebbins wasn't surprised by the large turnout. Stebbins says "This actually generated more phone calls to me than the coal plants."

Stebbins, along with Commissioner Bill Beecher voted against the rate changes. Mayor Stebbins told News Channel 5 "I think that in terms of economic development, raising the rates is counterproductive." And many business owners agree. They say it's already hard enough to bring shoppers into their stores.

Joyce Watson, the owner of Big Sky Quilts says "I've had people refuse to come here because they have to pay for their parking." John Godwin, the owner of Photo Plus says the rate hikes are just another reason for people to avoid the downtown area. He says "It's almost like a tax on shoppers for coming downtown, where as no other area you shop in Great Falls has that tax."

Commissioners Mary Jolley, Bill Bronson and John Rosenbaum voted for the rate hike. They say it's needed to balance the city's budget. The public now has 30 days to come up with an alternative solution.