HOULTON, Maine — In an effort to generate more revenue, the Houlton Police Department is raising rates on services it provides to the public.
The Houlton Town Council unanimously approved the increased fees during Monday night’s regular meeting.
Starting Jan. 1, the cost to have fingerprints done at the Houlton Police Department will double in price to $10; the cost to get a report — such as a motor vehicle accident report — will go from $10 for the first three pages to $15. Each additional page is $1; and any request for outside services, such as a special police detail, will now come with a 10 percent administrative fee.
Additionally, the fee for non-residents to use the town’s firing range will double in price to $10. The cost to store firearms at the police station is also increasing to $15 per week for one weapon, $21 per week for two and $27 per week for three or more weapons.
“These fees are in anticipation of our proposed budget,” explained Town Manager Eugene Conlogue. “We are looking for ways to increase our revenue, which the council instructed us to do.”
Councilor Wade Hanson said he felt charging a 10 percent fee for outside service was akin to a double-whammy for taxpayers, since some organizations that use this service, like the school system, get their funding from tax dollars.
“Isn’t this kind of a redundant thing where we are using taxpayers’ dollars to pay a taxpayer’s service?” Hanson asked. “Would the Chamber of Commerce also fall under this category?”
Conlogue said he understood why councilor Hanson could see it that way, but the town and school are two separate units of government.
“It would be no different than if the town wanted to rent the school,” Conlogue said. “We would be charged for that. It is simply this unit of government charging a fee to use our services.”
Councilor Phil Cloney asked if the town charged the Maine State Police or Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department for use of the firing range. Lt. Dan Pelletier of the Houlton Police Department stated the town did not charge those organizations, or any resident, to use the facility.
The police department also sees many individuals asking to store firearms at the station when they learn they cannot carry them across the border into Canada.
In other agenda items, the council:
• Approved a victualer’s license for Jeremy Bither, doing business as JB’s Quickmart on 135 Military St.
• Renewed a liquor license for Richard Kelley, doing business as O’Kelley’s Irish Pub on 241 North St.
The next regular meeting of the Houlton Town Council will be Monday, Dec. 23 at 6 p.m.
