Home alarm fines could increase five times

Reported by: Craig Andres
Email: candres@ksn.com
Last Update: 7/01 10:25 am

Print Story |

WICHITA, Kansas – Keeping your home safe could soon cost you extra. The City of Wichita is considering increasing home alarm fees as officials try to slash next year’s budget.

The city needs to make up for $8 million and among the proposals is making those who own security alarms pay monthly fees and face hefty fines for false alarms.

With a cash crunch, city leaders are scrambling to find a way to keep core services in place with things like police and fire protection. And one way to find money could hit residents in the pocketbook. There are 32,000 licensed home and business alarms in Wichita and those alarms could be a source of revenue.

Wichita’s fire chief says he may have to cut at least one fire engine and do away with several squad responders because of budget concerns.

“I don't wanna cut services,” said Chief Ron Blackwell, WFD.

And to try and head off budget cuts, Chief Blackwell proposed a tax on everyone in Wichita who has one of the home alarms.

“I mean I had no idea that 98 percent of the alarms that you guys respond to are false alarms,” said Wichita Councilman Jeff Longwell. “That's pretty staggering.”

City council members want to focus on those false alarms because nearly all alarm calls for fire crews are false. So another proposal on the table is that if a home or business owner has a false alarm and they respond, it could cost them up to $250.

“Oh, yeah -- anybody that has a security system, if you use your alarm, you have false alarms,” said homeowner Julie Sheppard.

Sheppard says false alarms happen and says $250 is a lot of money for people to pay.

“We have to have security systems, because it helps keep us safe,” she said.

Sheppard says the alarm company does place calls to make sure there is a real emergency, giving the homeowner a chance to call it off.

Chief Blackwell says he’d rather raise fees or fines than see fewer alarms protecting Wichita.

“But, we've got a deficit and this is an attempt to get at that,” he said.

Between police and fire there are more than 25,000 alarm calls in Wichita each year. In addition to the alarm fees and fines to save city money is a proposal to cut the number of school resource officers in half. None of the ideas are final and city members want time to consider the options.

Add a Comment

(3) Comments

To Email:
Your Name:
Your Email:
Message:
	Send a copy to my email