Red-Light Camera Ticket Money Directed to Arnold Safety Programs

The Arnold City Council voted, 8-0, to direct money generated by the city’s red-light camera system towards city safety programs.

By creating an ordinance, a city law, the current council would assure that the purpose of red-light camera money would be known by an entirely new group of councilmen in the future, Police Chief and Interim Arnold City Administrator Robert Shockey said during the council meeting on July 19 at .

Shockey confirmed that no more than 25 percent of the money collected in the fund would finance a specific Arnold safety program after Ward 2 Councilman Michelle Hohmeier asked how the funds would be used.

Shockey also said that about $50,000 would be generated in red-light camera tickets the city’s current fiscal year which runs from September 2011 to August 2012.

If a future council wanted to use the safety fund money for other city purchases, Shockey said the future councilmen would need to vote to remove the recently approved ordinance to release the safety fund money into the city’s general fund that is used for various purchases.

The ordinance, No. 2514, obligates the City of Arnold to use red-light camera ticket money for city safety programs only.