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Wichita City Council Defers Vote to Increase Alarm System Fees

The Wichita City Council defers a vote on raising alarm system fees. The city proposed the fees to offset the cost of responding to about 25,000 false alarm calls each year.

The new fees would include a $25 annual registration fee. Alarm users would be required to register themselves with the city. The registration fee came about after negotiations with the alarm system industry. The original plan called for monthly fees, $1 for residents and $3 for business.

On top of the registration fee, false alarm fees would also go up. Everyone would get one false alarm for free. After that, it's $40 and goes up to $350 depending on the number of false alarms. The fees are higher for false fire alarms. Those start at $100 and go up to $750 depending on the number of calls.

If the council eventually approves the fees, the city would offer an online false alarm course and quiz people could take to avoid the payment. The city says the goal is to educate people to reduce the number of false alarms.

Council member Jeff Longwell says every time an officer is dispatched for a false alarm, citizens are less safe. He says if the fees truly help reduce false alarm fees he could support it, but he's not interested in just raising fees to generate revenue for the city.

Mayor Carl Brewer says the deferral comes at a good time because he's not ready to raise fees for citizens. He says once more details are worked out with the alarm system industry, he may feel more comfortable with the issue.

The alarm system fees will go back before council in about three weeks.