Council warned of steep CBD dispatch fee increase; staff to return with details Jan. 5

Councilors pressed staff for details after being told the village’s fire dispatch costs from CBD rose well above earlier estimates.

The fire chief said initial 2025 figures for fire dispatch were about $47,009.14 and earlier budget planning assumed a 2.8–5% increase; staff later received a new total of $55,005.10 for 2026. "We're coming back with a new total, $55,005.10, which was a total shock to me," the chief said. Councilors calculated the change represents about a 12% increase relative to earlier estimates and said the village will need to amend the 2026 budget early in January to account for the difference.

Council members asked whether CBD’s governing board had authorized the increase and whether other member communities received similar notices. Staff said CBD is a private entity but that member communities can request CBD meeting minutes and financial documents; the mayor, who sits on the CBD governing board, was asked to report back with answers.

Next steps: staff committed to gather documentation and return to council at a January meeting with more details about the charge and the budget amendment required.