Wheeling voters nix 911 fee

911 fee fails: For the third time Wheeling voters have rejected an increase in the fee on phone lines to keep the 911 service up to date.

The fee assessed only on land lines is 75 cents a month, and the village board asked that it be increased to $1.45.

With 17 of 22 precincts reporting in Cook County, unofficial totals showed no votes led yes 2,976 to 2,109.

Village President Judy Abruscato said the village board will work on its budget Saturday and will decide how to make room in the general fund to keep the village's police and fire dispatch services and technology up to date. It is possible the village will set a higher property tax levy, she said.

“It's very disappointing,” she said. “I'll be crying tomorrow.”

One argument that opponents made against the increase is that the fee unfairly affects senior citizens because it is only on landlines, not cell phones.

In February Wheeling residents narrowly rejected the proposed increase in the monthly 911 surcharge. The no votes were 1,561; the yes votes 1,400.

This was seen as progress from 2008 when voters rejected it by more than 1,000 votes.

Village President Judy Abruscato said the general fund cannot afford these increased costs.