Elgin could double towing fees in bid to help balance sheet
Elgin leaders are considering doubling the police department's fee when a vehicle is towed - a move that could raise an estimated $1.5 million a year as the city looks to balance its budget.
Council members on Wednesday will consider the change, which will apply to certain criminal offenses, such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving with a suspended or revoked license, and violating the city's car stereo noise ordinance.
It will not apply to traffic crashes in which vehicles must be towed.
Councilman John Prigge said he supports the move and does not know of any of his colleagues opposing it. He said it will help stiffen penalties for loud music, which is a common complaint among residents, as well as punish other criminal acts.
"I don't know of anybody who would say raising the fees for those types of infractions is a bad thing," Prigge said. "For those types of offenses, it makes perfect sense. The principle here is a good one."
"I think it's a good idea," added Mayor Ed Schock, who noted DUI and driving without a license are serious offenses. "These are all things people know but they choose to ignore."
A memo from City Manager Sean Stegall and Police Chief Lisa Womack to the city council says some other towns in the area also have $500 fees for loud car stereos, such as Crystal Lake, St. Charles, Arlington Heights, Aurora, Streamwood, Hanover Park and Glendale Heights.
The proposal also wants to create an adjudication process where a city-hired hearing officer, instead of the deputy police chief, will hear complaints and objections from people whose cars were towed because of loud music. The process also will allow the city to collect more of the fine.
If city leaders sign off on the move, the could have a final vote on it on Oct. 14 and even collect two months worth of higher towing fees for this year, which would go into the city's general fund.
City leaders need to cut some $3.3 million from the current budget by Dec. 31 and have said there could be more layoffs. The city also could dip into reserves.
Stegall acknowledged the city could collect "a couple hundred thousand dollars" if the towing fee increase goes into effect this fall. But he maintained the $1.5 million estimate was looking ahead to 2010 and for road improvements.
"Because (the increase) is already on top of what's in place, we won't need any new personnel," Stegall said Monday. "Most communities have something like this. ... If you don't get your car towed, you don't have to pay it."