Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Communications topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
9‑1‑1 board reports lower proposed budget, warns of near‑term shortfall as fee rollout continues
Summary
The newly formed 9‑1‑1 board presented a smaller proposed budget for fiscal 2025–26 after one‑time costs and negotiated tower leases reduced capital expenses. The board said the county faces a roughly $466,000 shortfall and discussed ongoing efforts to map and bill all users as the new user‑fee system is implemented.
The McCracken County and Paducah 9‑1‑1 board reported to the fiscal court on April 14 that the 2024–25 consolidated budget was $3.8 million and the proposed 2025–26 budget is roughly $3.3 million after one‑time capital costs tied to a radio project and earlier tower expenses were removed.
Jeff Parker and 9‑1‑1 board members told the court that negotiated reductions in tower leases and completion of large capital purchases explain most of the apparent savings. However, the board said the revenue side of the new user‑fee model has not fully matured: the proposed budget shows an estimated shortfall of about $466,000, which the board equated to roughly $233,000 for the county and $233,000 for the city if the gap is covered locally.
Board members described the ongoing implementation work to identify and bill all fee‑liable users. They said the county and city are auditing government parcels and housing projects to determine whether they were billed for each individual user or under a single government parcel fee; public housing and government parcels were highlighted as areas where billing units may have been missed. The board said it expects additional revenue to materialize over the next one to two years as the user‑fee roll‑out continues and as remaining accounts are reconciled.
On operations and system upgrades, presenters said shelters and other site work are in progress at the 9‑1‑1 center and at tower locations, and that equipment verification trips and testing will be required before system components ship. The board reiterated a target to reach full operational capability and 95% reliability by the end of the year, with testing and verification to follow.
Court discussion touched on outstanding questions about how multi‑unit properties (including public housing) are being billed under the new user fee and on whether revenue will close the 2025‑26 shortfall. The board said it will continue GIS and billing audits and meet with the PVA and city staff to reconcile accounts.
Ending: The court heard the 9‑1‑1 board’s proposed budget and timeline; the board expects additional fee revenue over time and will continue audits to reduce the projected shortfall.
