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County staff warn substitute 911 bill could leave regional center costs unrecognized
Summary
Spokane County staff updated commissioners on a House Finance substitute that would change how 911 tax revenue is shared between local PSAPs and regional centers and said the amendment removes prior call-volume methodology and calls for an equal distribution of revenues without an explicit cost-recognition formula for regional centers.
Mike Burgess, a county staff member, briefed the Spokane County Board of Commissioners on a substitute amendment to a 911 funding bill under consideration in the House Finance Committee that would change how tax revenues are distributed to public safety answering points (PSAPs).
The substitute strips a prior methodology based on call volume and an earlier 80% figure and replaces it with language that “includes both PSAPs — a local jurisdiction operating their own PSAP as well as a local jurisdiction whose 911 calls are transferred from the regional 911 center,” County staff member Scott said, adding the amendment “calls for an equal sharing of the revenues.”
County staff told commissioners the new language could be read in different ways: it might require transferring an equal portion of revenues to local governments operating their own municipal PSAPs or be interpreted as sharing all collected revenue between jurisdictions. Staff said that creates a clarity problem and flagged a specific concern: if a city or other local government runs its own PSAP, the amendment could obligate transfer of the full revenue stream without any explicit recognition of the costs still borne by the regional 911 center (SHREC) for services it performs.
Burgess and Scott recommended the county consider asking for clarifying language if the substitute passes the committee and later the House floor. Commissioners discussed contacting regional delegation members; Burgess said Chair Burr is listed as sponsor of the substitute in the tax committee and that Spokane-area delegation members have been involved in related conversations.
Commissioners and staff noted that the statewide 911 association has concerns about setting a local precedent that could affect other jurisdictions statewide. No formal action or vote took place at the briefing; staff asked commissioners whether they wanted to revisit or provide suggested clarifying language if the bill advances.
The bill was reported as in House Finance (the House tax committee) with further procedural stops (rules committee, then House floor). Staff said the substitute was scheduled to be voted from committee the same day it was briefed to the board.
