(Photo by Stina Sieg - KJZZ)

Parking meters in Phoenix could soon swing in prices, from 50 cents to $6 an hour.

Get your credit cards and quarters ready. It may be getting more expensive to park in downtown Phoenix. Parking meter rates could soon fluctuate between 50 cents and $6 an hour, according to a new proposal that calls for “dynamic” pricing.

Rates would shift depending on the time of day and location of the meter. For example, a cherry spot near Chase Field during a Diamondbacks game would be more expensive. A meter closer to Roosevelt Row at 1 p.m. on a Monday would be cheaper.

Matthew Heil, spokesman for the city, who explained these changes will be based on demand.

“So, they won’t be constantly high or constantly low,” he said, “but will respond to the way that people use our parking meters.”

This is designed to help close a $37 million budget shortfall in Phoenix. The meter increase would generate an estimated additional $1 million to $2 million each year. But first the city council must vote on the proposal, after a public comment period.

Jill Peterson is a court runner who drives downtown about a three times day. She spoke from a parking spot right outside city hall on Washington Street.

“No, it would not be good,” she said. “And it will promote illegal parking. It will promote it. But maybe that’s what they want, so they can write more tickets.”

And with that, she added a quarter to her meter. That bought 10 minutes – for now. The city council is expected to vote on the increase by the end of June.