Wheeling will have to find 911 money somewhere else

Voters may have rejected an increase in the 911 surcharge on their phone bills, but Wheeling residents will still see that money taken out of their pockets.

The referendum question on Tuesday asked for a monthly increase from 75 cents to $1.45 on phone lines to maintain the village's 911 system. The proposal was rejected by 60 percent of the voters.

The village had estimated the annual cost to an average household at $17.40.

"If the fund runs empty, which it's foreseen to do in the next year, it's going to be a line item in the general fund," said Dean Argiris, the interim village president.

He said the village was trying to avoid that happening because the 911 fund has always paid for itself. The surcharge hasn't increased since 1989.

Argiris said he understands that residents are not willing to dole out more money in the current economic state, but the funds are necessary to keep the 911 services up-to-date.

"The technology, staff, dispatch centers come at a price," he said. "We're going to have to look at it for the 2010 budget."

Other items may have to suffer for keeping up the 911 fund, though, since the village board may not want to increase taxes.

"We can't hit the taxpayers so hard," he said.

The board will be starting budget hearings for 2009 Saturday, Nov. 8, but 911 service is unlikely to figure in that discussion as the fund has enough money for the time being.