Can telecom tax hike float Fox Lake's 911 system?
Fox Lake residents could pay a higher telecommunications tax if trustees do not agree to merge the 911 emergency dispatch center with Round Lake's CenCom.
But, at least one trustee said giving away the $1 million FoxComm emergency dispatch center is a knee-jerk reaction to a tough problem.
Mayor Cindy Irwin said FoxComm, the village's 911 center, is losing money rapidly and that "things must change." She would like a decision to be made in the next two weeks.
She said the only ways to fix the problem are to either hike the village's telecommunications tax or merge the center with CenCom.
"There is no other option at this point," she said. "We don't have the money in the budget to cover the center, and if we keep going like it is, we will go bankrupt in two years."
However, Trustee Ed Bender, head of the village's public safety committee, said officials should make sure there isn't another solution.
"Historically, when I've seen a major decision made after a knee-jerk reaction -- and this is a knee-jerk reaction on the mayor's part -- it's never turned out good in the long run," he said. "It takes time to deal with other boards, and they aren't letting it happen."
Treasurer Paul Christensen said trustees approved a budget in July that was about $350,000 in the red.
By raising the telecommunications tax to its maximum 6 percent, the village could take in another $170,000. The tax is now at 3.75 percent.
He added that if the village could bring in another $185,000 in revenue from other agencies to help cover the cost of the dispatch center, the village would be back to having a balanced budget.
"It's up to the village board to decide what to do," Christensen said.
The future of FoxComm has been a bone of contention for the Fox Lake village board over the past three months.
Village officials estimate the renovated, state-of-the-art center costs about $1 million annually to operate.
The village has a three-year contract with the village of Grayslake for dispatch services. Grayslake pays about $350,000 annually.
Lake Villa and Lindenhurst have both openly looked at pulling away from Antioch dispatch and joining FoxComm. However, neither village has committed to FoxComm yet.
Irwin said sitting around waiting for other agencies to come on board to help cover the cost of FoxComm is no longer a viable option.
"Some trustees don't want a merger --and that's fine -- but then we need an alternative funding source to help cover this cost," she said. "We can't keep sitting here, losing money, hoping other customers come on and help us pay for it."
Bender said he would review all of the information available before making a decision about the tax, or the center.
"I have a real hard time investing $1 million into the center, getting a contract with another agency for $1 million, then just giving it all away," he said. "I've got to do some number crunching on my own about the tax and see what the best solution is, or if a better solution is out there."