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Police propose small new fees as council shifts $56,000 to cover staffing shortfalls
Summary
Corydon's police chief proposed several modest new fees — including a $5 VIN/bin check, a $50 vehicle‑release handling add‑on and a $75 funeral‑procession escort fee billed to funeral homes — while council approved a $56,000 transfer to smooth next year’s public safety budget gap.
Councilors heard a proposal from the police chief to add several fees aimed at offsetting projected department cuts in 2026, and then approved a budget maneuver to move $56,000 from this year’s public safety LIT allocation into next year.
The police chief outlined the recommended fees: a $5 fee for vehicle VIN/bin checks (the chief said that is the state limit), a proposed $50 handling fee added to impound releases that would be remitted to the town, and public records fees intended to recover printing and paper costs. For funeral processions, the chief proposed a $75 fee billed to funeral homes for police procession escorts — a change intended to recover officer time when escorts require staff to wait for extended periods.
Officials said legal and practical questions remain. Council members expressed discomfort with imposing a procession fee directly on families and emphasized the town should check customary practice and county policies before finalizing any fee. The chief said the fee was intended to be billed to the funeral home rather than to grieving families and noted that some funeral homes provide their own escort lights and could elect to escort without police assistance.
The council also discussed impound and ticket revenue sources, and staff said the town receives revenue from ordinance violations when prosecutions are sustained. Several council members asked staff to confirm state statutes and county practices before drafting any ordinance to adopt new fees.
Short‑term budget move: Council approved a resolution to reallocate $56,000 from the current public safety LIT budget into next year to help offset reduced state funding and impending 2026 shortfalls. Staff characterized the transfer as housekeeping to preserve service levels during the budget transition; council approved the motion during the meeting.
Next steps: The council asked the police department and town staff to (1) confirm legal authority for each proposed fee and the statutory limits on charges, (2) consult with funeral homes about customary practices and communication of any new charge, and (3) return with proposed ordinance language and a recommended fee schedule if the town is legally able to adopt the charges.
Quotes used in this article are drawn from the meeting record and attributed to speakers on the council agenda and in the transcript.
