People wanting to park in premium metered parking spots around the downtown Square will soon have to pay for that privilege until midnight, Monday-Saturday.

Last week, the Oxford Board of Aldermen approved increasing the times for paid parking from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday to 10 a.m. to midnight.

The change in enforcement for paid parking will go into effect on Jan. 5, 30 days after the ordinance amendment was passed by the board.

Parking is free on the Square on Sundays and most state and national holidays.

Parking meters take coins and debit and credit cards.

Parking fees going up

The move to increase the paid-parking hours is part of the city’s plan to increase revenue to help pay for a future parking garage that will be paid for using a bond that will be  repaid with parking revenue only. Last month, the aldermen approved increasing the price of parking from $1 an hour to $1.25 an hour. Smaller increments will still be allowed. If someone only needs to park for a few minutes, $.25 will pay for 12 minutes; however, only coins can be used for anything less than an hour.

The increase in price will go into effect Jan. 1.

Parking Director Matt Davis said recently he was advertising for a new part-time parking enforcement officer to work at nights to help with enforcement of the new hours.