City Council approves extra fee on guilty parties at municipal court to pay for police technology
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Losing a case at the Colorado Springs Municipal Court just became more costly.
Today, the Colorado Springs City Council approved an extra fee to be paid by those convicted of municipal traffic or criminal ordinance violations. The money generated by that fee will help pay for the ever-increasing police technology fund.
Right now, the Colorado Springs Police Department's new technology budget is being funded from the city's general fund and grant monies.
"It's just not sustainable long term, especially as we look at the continual need to add technology and address some of these things for the police department," said Deputy Chief John Koch.
Body cameras, tasers, and electronic reporting systems are among the technologies CSPD says it needs to comply with state regulations.
According to law enforcement, paying for that equipment isn't getting cheaper.
Those found guilty of city traffic or criminal ordinance violations will pay an additional charge on top of the usual $65 charge.
Officials say this applies only to convictions and only at the municipal court; if you're found not guilty or your case is at the county courthouse, this won't apply.
"If somebody breaks the law, they should, you know, pay whatever fines and potentially costs associated with breaking that law," says Councilor Nancy Henjum, who voted in favor of this new fee. "I see it as really critical because it helps to minimize the amount that we have to come up with. It is going to have a positive impact on the budget because that frees up dollars for other needs that we have."
Not everyone on the board agreed, as evidenced by a close 5-4 vote to pass the proposal.
"I have a really hard time [seeing] how this is going to be sustainable," says Lynette Crow-Iverson. "I would much rather go increase that PSST [Public Safety Sales] tax rather than, you know, do these types of things that we'll lose trust with our citizens."
"I believe that the more we layer on additional surcharges and additional fees, it's going to make it that much harder to put in place, what I believe would be a much better, permanent solution in terms of a public safety sales tax increase," said Councilor Brian Risley.
Councilor Henjum says this isn't the only way the city is looking to increase revenue, especially as the city faces a shortfall.
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