Bump in Centre fees part of Elgin budget plan

Want to get a jump on that New Year's resolution to get in shape?

You might want to consider buying a membership to the Centre of Elgin before Jan. 1.

That's when yearly membership fees at the facility will increase 3 percent - a move that is part of a buffet of fee hikes in the works to help the city balance its budget.

For a resident membership, that's a rise from $335 to $345. Buy a yearly members hip now, and you'll get the first 11 months at this year's rate.

Randy Reopelle, the city's Parks and Recreation Department director, said an increase of 5 percent to 6 percent is really needed to counteract rising costs at the Centre. But officials didn't want to saddle residents with that during the sagging economy.

"Now is not the time to have that kind of bump," Reopelle said.

Despite the rise in Centre membership costs, the city will not raise fees at the outdoor pools at Lords and Wing Parks, the East Side Recreation Center, or for liquor licenses.

The 9-hole Wing Park golf course and 18-hole Highlands Golf Course also will not see any rise in fees next year.

However, the city's Community Development Department will charge 4 percent more for reviewing plans, issuing building permits, and performing inspections. That means it will cost homeowners more to build a new deck or addition.

Assistant City Manager Sean Stegall said the rise in inspection fees is help to cover employee health care costs.

The city also plans to create an internal adjudication board for local ordinance violations.

For example, a homeowner who is issued a citation for a barking dog or another code violation would have a case heard at city hall instead of the circuit court.

Hearings could be scheduled in late afternoons to accommodate residents and it also would be easier for the city to collect fines.

"It's a more streamlined process," said William Cogley, the city's corporation counsel.

In November, the city announced it was laying off 16 employees immediately and cutting 54 positions through attrition, layoffs, not filling current vacancies, early retirement and reassignments from now through 2009.

City officials also cut $60 million, or 18 percent, from their spending plan for 2009.