The Public Safety Pension Fee bills generated some buzz at Tuesday's Peoria City Council meeting.
The bills landed in property owner’s mailboxes last week.
City Manager Patrick Urich estimates they’ve received 100 calls a day. With 47,000 bills sent out, he says he doesn’t consider the call volume to be that significant. The new fee funds Peoria’s portion of police and firefighter pensions for the state.
The amount owed is based on the size of the property with a majority paying $25 for 2019.
The council previously approved a plan for the fees to be collected in 2019, 2020 and 2021. Urich said there were some kinks to work out in getting the bills mailed for 2019, so residents can expect to receive another bill later this year.
Councilwoman Denise Moore expressed hope that if the council instituted the fee, it can remove it as well. But Urich doesn’t anticipate the general assembly offering relief anytime soon.
Towing
Meanwhile, the council voter to approve some changes in how the city utilizes tow companies.
For all police department ordered tows, the standard towing fee will be increasing. It was $100 and will now be $155. Additionally, a cost of living adjustment will increase the standard tow fee $5 a year, up to $175 in 2024.
With an eye on the weather, be warned that a snow emergency tow nearly doubles, from $80 to $150.
There also are some changes for tow companies. All tow operators and drivers must now be in possession of a state issued Traffic Incident Management card. Also, tow operators must be able to respond to calls within 30 minutes or less, under reasonable road conditions.
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