Mills County joins other members in approving creation of Central Texas Regional 911 Emergency Communications District

Mills County’s Commissioners Court unanimously approved a resolution on March 24, 2025, authorizing the county to participate in creating the Central Texas Regional 911 Emergency Communications District. The resolution follows a presentation by Jim Reid, executive director for the regional program, who said the change would allow member governments to retain the full 50-cent per phone line 911 surcharge rather than having a portion subject to state appropriation.

Reid told the court the county now participates in the state-administered 911 system, where the 50-cent surcharge is collected by phone companies and placed in a state account subject to annual appropriations. Under the district model enabled by recent legislation, all 50 cents would be forwarded to the regional council-of-governments-managed district for local 911 services. Reid said the move does not change service delivery or the fee paid by residents; it changes only how the surcharge is held and disbursed.

Reid and court members described three anticipated benefits: faster local access to surcharge revenue, more stable funding less dependent on the state budget process, and the eventual ability, once a reserve is built, to broaden allowable uses of funds (for example, radios or mobile data terminals) that the state system currently restricts. Reid said his group would seek passage of member resolutions from 32 cities and seven counties; the statute creates the district as soon as the last required resolution is adopted, and the group is coordinating timing with Bell County so the exit is timed advantageously.

The court’s resolution cites the statutory authority for the district-creation process and directs county officials to sign and transmit the resolution as required. County Judge J. Johnson made the motion and Commissioner Williams seconded; the court voted in favor and asked Reid to provide follow-up information as needed. Reid said the council-of-governments hopes to finalize membership timing in August.

Ending: The court’s action commits Mills County to join the Central Texas Regional 911 district-formation process; the county will forward the signed resolution to the regional council of governments and continue coordinating timing with neighboring jurisdictions.