It appears as though two ways to resolve the city's budget deficit revolve around increasing parking revenues.
The City Council is expected to discuss Monday night (Oct. 24) raising parking meter rates from 50 cents per hour to $1 per hour and put an end to two free hours of parking for nonresidents during the winter months, from November through April.
The parking rate increase and no free parking could add hundreds of the thousands of dollars to the city's more than $750,000 which already is collected annually from parking meters and tickets.
Officials discussed the possibilities during their Tuesday night (Oct. 18) budget meeting. However, no decisions were made that night. At previous budget meetings, elected officials agreed the parking rate and free parking issues should be determined by the City Council.
According to City Administrator Dennis Jordan, it appears city officials are looking at several ways to ensure the city doesn't increase its tax levy for 2012.
As of last week, the city still had a budget deficit of about $40,000. However, a change in the parking meter rates would erase that deficit in a hurry.
Find out if you will be paying more to park in downtown Lake Geneva.
See full story in next Wednesday's Regional News hard copy edition or online here.
" It will add Hundreds of Thousands Of Dollars, for nonresidents during the winter months, from November through April.
The parking rate increase and no free parking could add hundreds of the thousands of dollars "
I would say DURING SEASON, not OFF Season..
And Wait a Min? I thought we had a Balanced Budget? And these Meters were going to Pay for themselves? So why do we need More $ For? Sounds like More Demacratic Spending Comming? Tax /charge more to those that Have to give it to the have nots and give themselves a Raise along the way.. Just wait, it's comming..
How in the world can Lake Geneva be in debt. The amount of Illinois people that come into the area all year long. How is this possible? The town is so congested that you can hardly get through, much less find a parking spot. I would think that the revenue alone from out of towners would be enough. I think that they need to figure out the traffic issue for the people who want to get to Williams Bay without having to go all the way around.
Wait until the Repaving of Rte 50 btwn LG and Fontana is done And they Install a Toll booth at both ends.. But you can get a I-Pass to make it easier and faster... ;-)
dont let people tell you that are goverment is not a for profit business police departments .ssi. ect dont belive it go to https://smallbusiness.dnb.com/ and look up lake geneva police department or any outher police department or goverment agency and see for you self not only do we pay taxes but we also pay in many outher ways
mark
genoa city
October 23, 2011 | 11:25 AM
Well, if this measure goes through, I for one will NOT be shopping in Lake Geneva anymore! Too much government, too much taxing, too much taking advantage of ordinary citizens to take care of government waste and inability to stay within their budgets.
Every time I read of the financial woes of the local governments and school entities around greater Lake Geneva i have to wonder how it can happen when so much of their tax revenue comes from out of state homeowners like myself who barely utilize local resources? The schools should be flush with cash considering how many lake area homes pay into it dearly yet never once have a child set foot into the schools, the park district programs should be best of breed since so few of the cottage crowd utilize the programs, the village/city coffers should be overflowing seeing that so many of the cottage area roads are private and use of city services is limited and those services that are used are paid for based on usage like water/sewer and building permits. It seems that civic mismanagement and fiscal irresponsibility have abounded in the area for years while the money was flowing in and out freely on the wave of economic prosperity and now that there is a major hiccup and slow down it is hitting the local government bodies harder than ever anticipated. Raising parking rates is certainly not the way to drive increased economic activity in Lake Geneva as every additional dollar into the meters is one less dollar in to the hands of the local merchants who certainly cannot afford any further slowdown in business less we see even more for rent signs through the business district. Think this one through as the impact will be far greater than you ever realize.
I totally agree with Bay Weekender. I am part of the "cottage crowd" referenced in BW's feedback. I would really like to know how on earth there could be a budget deficit. I pay more for taxes on my Wisconsin cottage than I pay on my full time residence in the Chicago suburbs, yet I get a lot more srevices for my tax dollars in the suburbs. I have no one in the school system here and never did. Apparently the lake Geneva city council can waste money and take advantage of taxpayers as well as the city slickers. With the economy the way it is, I would be very cautious in considering an increase in parking rates. It could be the final incentive to discourage people from visiting the area. This summer I noticed an increase in negative comments from friends who visit us in LG on the weekends. There were many comments regarding the high prices the downtown LG restrauants are charging. Nearly all of them indicated they wouldn't mind the prices if the quality was there, but the quality and meal portion served is decreasing. Everything just keeps going up in price around here, except, of course property values. Properety values are decreasing, yet taxes remain at the higher rates and then you want to charge more fees and other costs? When will you wake up and realize that you are pricing yourselves out of the market? The Lake Geneva city council should spend more time and effort trying to figure out how to bring new attractions to the area and how to draw more tourists than they do coming up with ways to get more fees out of the loyal tourists that have been ruturing for years. Keep it up and there will be plenty of us who will not be able to retire here as we previously hoped to do.
When you decide to borrow money for a fire truck, computers, lawn mowers, then buy an expensive and not needed new parking system this is what happens. The City of Lake Geneva is no different then the federal government and most of the public. They can't stay with in their means. I live just outside the city limits and drive down town for lunch or dinner at least 4 times per week. I shop at the local stores when I can and support all sity wide functions. I am not sure I will be able to afford coming down town as much as in the past and unfortunately this will only hurt the local businesses that I support. Instead of finding ways to spend money that we can't afford what about trying to find a way to bring in additional businesses to increase the tax base. Hillmore is a perfect example of the city councils inept management and lack of vision. There were ideas in the past that were on the table but the city council made it impossible for anyone to take a chance and try to develope the land. Why is it the council believes we need to stick it to the tourists and locals who want to spend their money here when there are viable alterantives by making Lake Geneva more business friendly? What ever happened to fiscal responsibility?
Just one point really - as for the schools being flush with dollars - the State of Wisconsin levy's for schools differently than Illinois. Its on a per pupil occupancy and three year rolling average "in district" resident basis. So, the value of the non-resident property (such as yours) only decreases the average cost for the residential homeowner contribution for the school. The school can only get the 3 year average student enrollment count times the state rate which I believe is like $14k. regardless of the property value. Property value decreases state aid which is a whole different can of worms for this area.
However, I completely agree that raising the rate and removing the one "perk" of the free sticker is crazy along with year round collections. There is NO WAY that this will equal 100's of thousands....no way. The peak season will increase - but the off season....uh uh....Then you add in the reason that the fund was created - to ease property tax burdens and to start putting money away for a parking garage (which will most likely never happen since they've spent all the accumulated funds on the new system and whatever was left is now in the general fund!) and the whole thing is bad politics.
Many on the council are businesses owners and being in a small community such as Lake Geneva and other small communities as well to entice business growth in the area is taboo because the fear of opening the gate to more business may just deminish their business due to competition . Also many just want this area to remain as it has been over the years and that can't happen and be able to maintain the services we have and add other services plus maintain the quality of life everyone wants. The group that presented plans for Hillmoor wanted to keep and enhance the golf course plus bring in some residential and business. But it was talked down because many said the cheap cost of golfing there would disappear and the business plan for along hwy 50 frontage would be unsitely because of the cars. So there it sits overgrown, no tax revenue and it looks more and more like the back 40 of a farm. The idea of developing the Hummel property was shot down and continues to be frowned on because many want it to remain as it is and use the excuse it will ruin the lake. Just take a look around the the lake. The majority in Lake Geneva are completely against development of any kind anywhere. But yet they want all the services you can get in other cities. Someone has to pay for them and sticking it to the tourist market everytime will only hurt tourism as time goes on. I love this area but it is time people get with the program of the 21st century. Costs for everything has gone up. Due to the lack of jobs and quality paying jobs I am as many others are being forced now to move elsewhere and that bothers me because I like the area. But, when it comes to being able to pay your bills, put food on the table, afford cloths and insurance. Check the records, why do you think there are so many on county programs? There are no quality jobs that pay a wage enough to suppport not only yourself but a family here. The small town charm doesn't look so good any longer especially when your hungy, living in your car, sick and not being able to seek treatment. The new parking system will pay for itself. As for the 2 hour free parking to residents it isn't a bad idea during the off season. I think this new system could help that idea because lets face it the way the system is now anyone could park for more than 2 hours free and no one would know. Thus losing revenue for the city. This system should be able to handle 2 hour parking for free. The parking stickers you receive has a number on it. If you wanted to utilize your 2 hour free parking all you should need to do is input your sticker number and stall number. Once it is in the system your 2 hours of free parking begins. But, once the 2 hours are up you start getting charged for the additional time. The city would have a readout of that and there are two ways to pay for the time owed by the resident. 1... The city could send a notice of money owed and you would pay it at city hall. 2... Your next trip to town and use of your free parking would automatically deduct the time from before leaving you whatever balance of the new 2 hours to use. Example: You owe 30 minutes or $1 of time previously. You put in your sticker number and stall this time and it comes up there is a balance of 30 mins or $1 owed. It would deduct the 30 minutes or $1 and leave you 11/2 hours or $1.50 free time to use this time. Simple idea. There are ways this system can benefit everyone and save money as well.
To my comment on the 2 hour free parking. I also believe residents should only receive 2 hours per week. If you use your 2 hours on Sunday you will not be able to park free til the following week. So if you park again in town on tuesday you have to pay. It cuts down on lost revenue. The only way to take advantage of free parking you would need a parking sticker. If you don't have one you pay to park. I believe a cost to aquire a sticker is needed let's say $10.00 per year. Just my opinion.
Dennis Jordan is the spendaholic with the bad advice behind everything this council does. They are his trained puppets. The little weasel spends taxpayer money like it is an endless pit, yet only dines when and where the food is sold at or below cost to get you in the door. This city established the parking fund solely to raise revenue to create more free parrking and they have constantly raided those funds off and on for over 40 years with virtually no new free parking. This proposed move is the icing and the cake if they follow through on doubling rates. This is the back door approach to not raising parking tickets last year. Vote every one of these clowns out and start a petition to get Jordan put to pasture.
Who Ya Crappin
North Como
October 26, 2011 | 08:06 AM
Keep adding more fees, and dont be surprised when less people come, because im not coming no more no more...
if the city hadnt mismanaged its money, you would not have to raise the parking fees, and then borrow money to buy lawn mors, trucks, fire trucks, . they do not know how to manage money, you would not have them work in your business. but lets not forget who put these ya whos in office and let jordan get away with being incompetant.
2nd disrict voter
LG
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