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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Cash-Strapped Cities Get Creative With Fees

Governments turning to extra charges to fill budget holes

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(Newser) – Cities across America are taking a page from the airlines and charging for things that used to be part of the service, the New York Times reports. "Accident response fees" charging at-fault drivers for the cost of cleaning up crash scenes are catching on, and Washington, DC is considering tacking a "streetlight user fee" onto utility bills.

Cities are also steeply hiking existing fees and becoming a lot more stringent about issuing tickets for infractions. Politicians say the extra fees are fairer—and easier for voters to swallow—than just raising taxes across the board, but critics charge that the fees have a lot more to do with filling holes in the budget than actually covering the cost of services.

Residents of Washington, DC may soon be missing the days of free streetlights if a proposal from the mayor goes through.
Residents of Washington, DC may soon be missing the days of free streetlights if a proposal from the mayor goes through.   (©Orin Optiglot)
A growing number of cities are charging
A growing number of cities are charging "accident response fees" to cover the cost of clearing up after fender-bender.   (Shutter Stock)
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Typically, it’s about a year after the revenues drop that the police start writing more tickets. - Gary Wagner, University of Arkansas economics professor

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TerrifiedCitizen
Apr 11, 09 9:37 AM CDT
The speed trap goes national... being poor was the reason it became a small town tradition in the first place. All the more reasons to telecommute to your job and take your Sunday drive virtually on Google Street View. Reply
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bunn16
Apr 11, 09 9:51 AM CDT
Before government finds new ways to tax us why can't the City and Federal Governments 1. Take a pay cut. 2. Pay for their own retirement, health insurance, car leases and any other "perks"? Shouldn't they lead by example? Why should they not have to worry like the rest of us about their financial future and have Us Pay for it? What makes them better than us? Reply
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radnip
Apr 15, 09 7:34 AM CDT
Why can't the people with money pay? And before you get outraged, check to make sure your bank account has at least $500k in it. Thanks. Reply
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parking ticket • municipal services • US cities • fee increase • fees • municipal government

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