A City Council committee recently discussed the possibility of imposing new fees or increasing fees for city services, but most council members were cool to the idea.
At the March 28 meeting, a report by Andrea Tevlin, the council’s independent budget analyst, suggested 12 ways for the city to start new fees for services or increase fees on current services. The report included surcharges for 911 calls, paramedic services and parking meter cards. Other ideas included a $12 fee to replace an automated refuse container, an increased charge on boat launches for non-city residents, increased fees for storm drains, charging businesses that are not operating with a business license and increasing fees upon business improvement districts.
“These are probably not feasible for 2008, but perhaps in 2009,” Tevlin said. “More research is needed.”
“It’s something that should be kept on the table,” she added. “We want to get the discussion started.”
No one on the Budget and Finance Committee favored tinkering with paramedics or 911 calls.
“How would you collect that?” asked District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer, who added that some people might not call for an ambulance or 911 if they would be charged a fee to do it.
“Some of these do more harm than good,” District 6 City Councilwoman Donna Frye said. “We aggravate more people. We need a legal opinion.”
“Most of these fees are nuisance fees,” said District 7 City Councilman Jim Madaffer. “It doesn’t do a lot of good to nickel-and-dime the public.”
“We know we’re underfunded,” District 3 City Councilwoman Toni Atkins said. “Clearly there are things we need to refer to the city attorney.”
Tevlin also suggested the city step up its collections on past-due fees already owed by residents.
Everyone on the committee favored charging residents for a new automated trash container, which would cost $12. Frye said that charge was not unreasonable.
Jay Goldstone, the city’s chief financial officer, said no new fees or increased fees are part of the fiscal 2008 budget to be presented to the City Council this month.