Council approves ordinance allowing lift‑assist fees for assisted‑living facilities starting Jan. 1, 2026

The South Beloit City Council on Oct. 6 approved Ordinance 2869 to impose lift‑assist fees on assisted‑living facilities and nursing homes under the conditions set by recent Illinois legislation. If the council implements the fee, it would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and would require a threshold number of lift‑assist calls before a fee could be imposed.

City staff said the ordinance mirrors state guidance: fees would be the actual cost of personnel and equipment expended by the department in responding to lift assists at facilities that do not provide adequate on‑site staffing. Staff stressed the fee would apply only to assisted‑living or nursing facilities and not to private residences. “It’s really just if they call us to help someone get back up into a chair or a bed, when really they should have staff on hand,” a city presenter said.

The council discussed the ordinance’s purpose as a tool to encourage facilities to maintain adequate staffing and avoid repeatedly using municipal EMS resources for non‑transport lift assists. Staff reported neighboring jurisdictions have used similar billing practices for years; one nearby chief told staff his jurisdiction has billed certain facilities for repetitive lift‑assist calls for at least 10 years.

Council members stressed the ordinance is not intended as a revenue generator but as an enforcement tool to reduce repetitive, resource‑intensive calls. The ordinance passed on council vote; staff said they had printed a fact sheet from the Illinois Municipal League documenting the state’s guidance on lift‑assist fees.