Wheeling wants to raise cost of 911 calls

Wheeling residents will face a referendum choice on their November ballots related to a 911 surcharge.

The village is looking to raise its $.75 a month surcharge on phone bills to $1.45 to keep a balanced budget related to 911 calls.

Fire Chief Keith MacIsaac said during the village board meeting Monday that the surcharge was put into place in 1989 and hasn't been raised since then.

In 2002, the state approved a $.75 per month fee for cell phones; the village received $.48 per month of that money.

That fee was decreased to $.73 in January, but Wheeling's cut was increased to $.58 a month.

However, MacIsaac said the increase in the cell phone surcharges hasn't caught up with the decrease in land line use.

He said in two years, the fund that goes toward maintaining the 911 database, buying dispatch center equipment and training dispatchers will go bankrupt.

Although the village board decided against an increase from $.75 to $1.30 last January, the trustees agreed this was the right time to put the question to a vote.

"This is a self-funding mechanism," said Trustee Dean Argiris. "We've got 20 years of catching up to do. It's for the safety of the community."

Village Manager Mark Rooney said even if the board decided against the referendum or the public votes against an increase, the village would likely have to increase the tax levy in the future to make up for the funds.

"There are no cuts we would ever consider making on this," Rooney said, since it does affect public safety.

MacIsaac said several communities in the area -- such as Arlington Heights and Buffalo Grove -- maintain a $.75 surcharge, but some communities -- such as Barrington Hills and Evanston -- have gone up to $1.50.

"Either way it's going to come out of your pocket," Trustee Mike Horcher said.

MacIsaac said the increase, if approved in the fall, would likely keep the fund afloat for eight to 10 years.