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County officials warn of large radio and phone system costs as statewide 9-1-1 funding changes approach
Summary
Delaware County budget presenters told the council the county faces multi-million-dollar radio replacement and other public-safety capital costs tied to changes in the statewide 9-1-1 funding structure; they outlined options including leasing or financing and asked the council to plan for potential capital needs in 2027-28.
Delaware County budget staff and commissioners said the county will likely need to plan for large public-safety capital expenditures, including a roughly $2 million radio replacement and upcoming phone system costs tied to statewide 9-1-1 funding changes.
Budget presenter Fred described a recurring annual Motorola contract for radio maintenance and said the county will need to add a final console in a planned upgrade. "We're gonna be looking at a plan that has to include $2,000,000 for radios," Fred said, adding that the sheriff's office also needs radios and that the county has "millions of dollars in upcoming expenses" for capital improvements.
Why it matters: statewide changes to 9-1-1 funding and the possible reconfiguration of PSAP funding create uncertainty for county budgets. Staff warned that some components of the public-safety communications system will require large, near-term capital outlays that the county must budget or finance.
Options and constraints discussed: council members and staff discussed choices such as leasing, financing, or paying cash; Fred said the county may need "outside-the-box thinking" and to take on debt to spread the cost. He cautioned the county to balance capital needs against a goal of minimizing new debt.
Funding and timeline: staff said some phone system and radio replacement timelines are not yet firm but will coincide with state-level changes by 2027-28. Fred and other presenters said the county will revisit those line items in September and in the next budget cycle to keep the account sustainable.
Ending: County staff asked the council to consider financing options and to include capital planning for communications upgrades in upcoming budget deliberations rather than assuming annual maintenance funds will cover major replacements.
