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Ocala
Friday, March 29, 2024

Ocala Police Department increases fees for fingerprints, records checks

Ocala Police Department has a new schedule in place for certain fees, including records checks and fingerprints.

The Ocala City Council approved Ordinance 2021-68 and Resolution 2021-38 during its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 17. 

The new ordinance enables council to adopt a fee schedule through resolution, which it did shortly after approving the ordinance.

According to OPD Chief Michael Balken, the department had not reviewed and updated the fees in several years. The new ordinance enables Ocala City Council to provide for “periodic changes” to the fee schedule because of “budget considerations, increased growth, and increased cost of providing certain services.”

Balken says the new fees were established in line with agencies around the state.  According to the chief, the average cost for fingerprints of the agencies contacted is “about $10.”

“We contacted about 60 agencies to find out that our fee schedule was about half of what it should be. So we want to change that, and get that in line with other agencies,” said Balken.

The new fee schedule provides for an increase from $3 to $5 for records checks and police clearances for passports, visas, and other documents. 

Fingerprints, both digital and ink, will increase from $2 to $10 for Marion County residents and $20 for non-Marion County residents.