Parking tickets in Fort Dodge would get a little more expensive under a proposal to come before the City Council tonight.

That proposal would raise the fine for a parking violation from $15 to $20.

But before the council turns its attention to parking tickets, it will continue with its work on the proposed budget for 2025-2026.

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. in the Municipal Building, 819 First Ave. S., with a budget workshop.

The spending plans for the storm water utility, sanitation, central garage, inspections, the Municipal Building, development services, the Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District and the Commercial Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District will be reviewed.

The council business meeting will begin at 6 p.m. That is when the first reading of the measure to increase the parking fines will be considered.

Getting a parking ticket now results in a $15 fine. If it isn’t paid within 30 days, another $5 is added. If the ticket isn’t paid after 75 days, it is referred to the Webster County Treasurer’s Office to be added on to the vehicle owner’s registration fee. At that time the county adds a $5 administrative fee.

So ultimately, a parking ticket could cost someone $30.

Those fines have remained the same since 2011, Police Chief Dennis Quinn wrote in a report to the council.

The proposal before the council would raise that initial parking violation fine to $20. If it wasn’t paid within 30 days, another $10 would be added. If it wasn’t paid after 75 days, the ticket would be referred to the county Treasurer’s Office, and the county would add its $5 administrative fee.

Under the proposal, a parking ticket could ultimately cost someone $35.

The proposal must be approved by the council three times to become law.