Baldwin Park : Council Raises User Fees

Residents who take the plunge in the city swimming pool will have to pay $1, double last summer’s rate, after the City Council last week raised a dozen recreation, police and building fees to fatten the city’s budget. The council voted unanimously to raise building fees 28%, increase police fingerprinting fees and institute a $5 garage sale permit, among other increases. The increases approved Wednesday will generate about $192,000 in extra revenue this fiscal year.

The council also agreed to consider reinstating a 5% utility tax that has been suspended since 1985. The council agreed that the money generated, which could be as much as $2 million annually, would be used to beef up the city’s understaffed police force. The utility tax is scheduled to come up for a vote Wednesday.