Can Gurnee count on red-light cash?

Gurnee Trustee Kirk Morris expressed concern Monday night about the proposed 2011-12 budget counting on $1.5 million in fines through photo enforcement at intersections if the state outlaws such tickets to drivers improperly turning right on a red light.

Morris spoke at the second Gurnee village board review of the tentative $50 million budget set to begin May 1. Police, fire, administration and other department bosses gave presentations to the village trustees and Mayor Kristina Kovarik on their spending plans Monday evening.

Gurnee’s 2011-12 budget projects receiving $2.1 million from fines and forfeitures, which includes red-light camera violations, DUI impoundment fees and liquor-license offenses. The budget shows the take would be a 23 percent hike from the current budget.

Red-light camera violations are expected to account for $1.5 million of the $2.1 million in revenue under the fines and forfeitures heading. Court fines are forecast to bring in about $395,000.

Morris said there is talk the state legislature will outlaw issuing red-light camera tickets to drivers who roll through when turning right. He said if some of the $1.5 million in the budget vanished, it would have to be made up somehow.

“If that right-turn-on-red (camera law) comes through, where are we going to cut in the budget?” Morris said.

Village Administrator James Hayner said a significant loss of budgeted red-light camera cash could result in the loss of municipal jobs. The bulk of the village’s expenses are for personnel.

“We’d have to take a close look at things,” Hayner said.

Documents show red-light camera violation fee revenue would allow for a 13 percent increase in proposed spending on professional services, from $627,600 to $710,500.

As for the department presentations, Hayner said his administration employees would work within a $1.4 million budget, up about 8 percent from last year. He noted his department is a direct link between Gurnee residents and the elected village board members.

Police Chief Robert Jones presented highlights from his $12.2 million spending plan. Salaries and wages are responsible for a 6 percent increase over the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Jones said some new programs will be launched, including Care Track, a system designed for those with Alzheimer’s disease, autism or other similar conditions who might stray from their homes and not know how to return.

Under the program, which is already used in other suburbs, residents with a special-needs family member typically contact a police department to start a screening process. If certain criteria are met, a watch-sized Care Track transmitter is sold so the afflicted individual can be traced by police with a radio signal.

Fire Chief Fred went over his proposed department budget, which is roughly $8.2 million. Personnel costs account for a roughly 4 percent hike in the department’s request for 2011-12.

Gurnee’s 2011-12 proposed budget is up from the previous $47 million spending plan. The municipal budget year runs from May 1 to April 30

Another budget review is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday at village hall, 325 N. O’Plaine Road, followed by a session March 28. The document will be up for final village board approval April 4.