Wheeling won’t hike fees to cut $1 million deficit

Wheeling officials working to close a $1 million budget shortfall won’t be filling the gap by imposing higher fees on residents.

The village board, which has spent several weeks trying to balance the 2012 budget without hiking the property tax levy, on Monday turned down proposals they raise fees on construction and building permits and emergency medical transport.

The proposed hike of nearly 3 percent on building fees would have brought an additional $14,000 to the village, said Michael Mondschain, Wheeling’s director of finance.

However, trustees voted 5-2 against the fee increase.

“We’re giving a break with regards to the tax levy, why can’t we just leave this alone for another year,” Trustee Dean Argiris said.

Fire Chief Keith MacIsaac presented a plan for changing the way the village bills for emergency medical transport that would bring in an additional $54,000. MacIsaac suggested charging $10 per mile for the distance an emergency vehicle travels from picking up a patient to the hospital, on top of the flat fee already charged per call.

The fee would be refundable through some insurance, MacIsaac said, so many residents would not have to pay the increase directly.

But trustees said they fear residents would not to call for emergency services because of the higher cost. The board unanimously rejected the proposal.

“I’m afraid the resident won’t pick the phone up and call because they’ll say it’s cheaper to drive myself,” said Trustee Robert Heer. “There’s a life-safety issue here.”

The board held its public hearing on the 2012 budget Monday, but no residents came forward to speak about it. The final budget will be considered for adoption on Dec. 19.