County To Consider Raising 911 Fees
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Tim [email protected]
Thursday, Mitchell told the Kosciusko County Council that the county is losing 911 fees from landline phones at a rate of 8 percent each year. Mitchell said if the county cannot find a way to make up for the loss, the council would have to raise the fee in July in order to pay for the service.
According to Mitchell, it costs $1.2 million to fund the 911 service each year. This year, the county collected about $600,000 in landline fees and less than $200,000 in wireless fees. Mitchell said the county started the year with a surplus, which has helped keep the program afloat, but the surplus won't be there next year.
The council discussed developing a private 911 service, which could contract out to other counties to draw revenue.
Councilman Larry Teghtmeyer said Kosciusko County's advanced system could serve the county well in such an arrangement. Teghtmeyer said some counties in the area have very basic 911 systems and could possibly save money by contracting for the service instead of upgrading their own systems.
"The service could be a blessing to other counties and a benefit to us," Teghtmeyer said.
Other councilmen said a better idea would be to keep things simple and raise the fees.
"Let's just worry about paying for our own county before we start worrying about others," councilman Tom Anglin said.
Mitchell told the council even if they do raise the 911 fee in July, the county won't receive the funds until late October. A fee raise is not permanent, Mitchell said, the council can decide to reduce the fee at any time.
Councilman Bob Sanders made a motion to allow Mitchell to advertise a hearing to raise the monthly 911 fees from the current $1 to $2.59 -the maximum rate allowed- at the July 12 council meeting.
The rate hasn't been raised since it was implemented in the mid 1980s. Mitchell said for a home with one phone line, the increased fee would amount to $19 per year.
Sanders said he made the motion hoping a better solution can be found.
"I really don't think we have a choice," he said. "I would hate to think we would lose our 911 service."
The council unanimously passed the motion.
"We have to do something," said councilman Harold Jones. "We can always knock it back."
Mitchell said she plans to ask local state legislators to investigate the possibility of state aide for the 911 service or a means of collecting fees from cellular phone users.
"We have to tell them about the problem," Mitchell said. "If we don't tell them, they don't know."[[In-content Ad]]
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Thursday, Mitchell told the Kosciusko County Council that the county is losing 911 fees from landline phones at a rate of 8 percent each year. Mitchell said if the county cannot find a way to make up for the loss, the council would have to raise the fee in July in order to pay for the service.
According to Mitchell, it costs $1.2 million to fund the 911 service each year. This year, the county collected about $600,000 in landline fees and less than $200,000 in wireless fees. Mitchell said the county started the year with a surplus, which has helped keep the program afloat, but the surplus won't be there next year.
The council discussed developing a private 911 service, which could contract out to other counties to draw revenue.
Councilman Larry Teghtmeyer said Kosciusko County's advanced system could serve the county well in such an arrangement. Teghtmeyer said some counties in the area have very basic 911 systems and could possibly save money by contracting for the service instead of upgrading their own systems.
"The service could be a blessing to other counties and a benefit to us," Teghtmeyer said.
Other councilmen said a better idea would be to keep things simple and raise the fees.
"Let's just worry about paying for our own county before we start worrying about others," councilman Tom Anglin said.
Mitchell told the council even if they do raise the 911 fee in July, the county won't receive the funds until late October. A fee raise is not permanent, Mitchell said, the council can decide to reduce the fee at any time.
Councilman Bob Sanders made a motion to allow Mitchell to advertise a hearing to raise the monthly 911 fees from the current $1 to $2.59 -the maximum rate allowed- at the July 12 council meeting.
The rate hasn't been raised since it was implemented in the mid 1980s. Mitchell said for a home with one phone line, the increased fee would amount to $19 per year.
Sanders said he made the motion hoping a better solution can be found.
"I really don't think we have a choice," he said. "I would hate to think we would lose our 911 service."
The council unanimously passed the motion.
"We have to do something," said councilman Harold Jones. "We can always knock it back."
Mitchell said she plans to ask local state legislators to investigate the possibility of state aide for the 911 service or a means of collecting fees from cellular phone users.
"We have to tell them about the problem," Mitchell said. "If we don't tell them, they don't know."[[In-content Ad]]
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