New tax for keeping Prospect Heights police station open

Prospect Heights city officials promise to maintain a minimum level of police staffing, if voters pass two referendums raising property taxes above the tax cap and establishing a new police protection tax on April 7.

The city is asking for $1.25 million in additional revenue for public safety. Homeowners would pay an extra $108 per $100,000 home value.

The city council this week directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance that would ensure 2008-09 police staffing levels.

That means the city would maintain the police department's 26 sworn officers, one drug enforcement officer, three civilian employees and two social workers. That has been the department's staffing level since 1998, Police Chief Bruce Morris said.

"We have decreased the number of civilian personnel by five positions," Morris said. "(The ordinance) doesn't enhance the police department's staffing levels, it just retains the current staffing levels that we have in this budget year. It gives me minimal staffing on civilians to keep the station open between Monday through Friday at business hours."

If voters pass the referendums, the police station will remain open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Otherwise, it would be closed to the public.

"There will be some visible reduction in services, if I have to reduce personnel below where I'm at right now," Morris said.

The ordinance will be reviewed and approved at a future city council meeting.