Johnson County presents $4.99 million FY2026 emergency communications budget; officials flag large CAD replacement

Johnson County officials on Wednesday presented a proposed $4,989,386 fiscal year 2026 budget for emergency communications and 9‑1‑1 services and warned supervisors that the county likely will need a major computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system replacement in the next two to three years.

The proposed FY2026 budget — up 6.7% from FY2025 and reflecting a 9.9% increase in the county’s tax asking for the unit — was summarized by a department presenter identified as Tom (staff member). Tom said the county’s current CAD product is showing signs of being outgrown by local needs and that a replacement would be “a large number, significantly large number,” comparable to or larger than recent radio upgrades.

Why it matters: The county’s emergency communications system is the backbone for countywide dispatch and interagency radio connectivity. A major CAD replacement would be a multi‑year capital commitment with operational and migration risks that affect 9‑1‑1 response and other public‑safety partners.

Tom told supervisors that the department’s long‑running all‑inclusive maintenance contract (entered four years ago with a multi‑year option) is currently the largest single operating expense and helps avoid unpredictable upgrade and hardware costs. He said one maintenance line includes a $610,000 item covering vendor upgrades, hardware support and service calls and that the department pays roughly $691,000 annually for contractual maintenance and repair across infrastructure lines.

Tom also gave staffing and benefits highlights: the department budget remains heavily personnel driven (about 75% personnel and benefits for most government departments, he said), with 33 salaried positions and 27 hourly dispatch staff. He said 12 of those 27 hourly dispatchers — roughly 44% of hourly dispatch staff — are at senior pay steps (step 10 or higher). Health insurance costs were estimated to rise about 4.37% for the plan year that renews Dec. 1; the presenter said he must estimate seven months of costs when preparing the budget.

Other operating details in the presentation included: contract maintenance and software escrow accounts, server/storage and Microsoft licensing, tower‑site maintenance, building utilities and HVAC improvements (noting recent heating/cooling upgrades have improved efficiency), and a $691,000 contractual maintenance and repair line that covers UPS, equipment‑room HVAC, and the radio backbone. Tom said some capital outlay items are being set aside for replacements and spare parts, and noted the FY2026 budget includes modest ongoing capital line items for equipment refreshes.

Supervisors asked questions about collective bargaining cycles and turnover; Tom said the department will enter year three of its current bargaining cycle on July 1 and emphasized recruitment and retention challenges for 24/7 dispatch work. Supervisors and staff discussed the county’s longstanding practice of using bonds to finance large capital items rather than building large fund balances.

Ending: Tom closed by saying the presentation was intended to provide annual background about the department’s cost drivers and to give supervisors advance notice of a potential CAD replacement over the next two to three years so the board can consider the fiscal impact in future capital planning.