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Medical Lake public safety officials warn House bill on 911 apportionment could prompt Spokane to leave regional dispatch
Summary
Medical Lake public safety leaders told council a proposed state bill to apportion 9-1-1 excise tax dollars by call volume prompted the regional board to support Spokane creating its own dispatch center; speakers said that could increase costs and redundancies for other jurisdictions.
Chief Romer, the fire chief who delivered the city’s public safety report, told the Medical Lake City Council that January call volume was normal but that an uptick in structure fires had accompanied recent cold weather. He said the council should watch a state measure — referenced in the meeting as House Bill 1258 — that would change how 9-1-1 excise tax revenues are apportioned across the county.
“The parameters for that bill specify apportionment in the County based on call volume as compared to tax revenue generation,” Chief Romer said, adding that council members and local agencies had testified in opposition. He said the city supports Spokane receiving a fair portion of 9-1-1 tax revenues but “not at the expense of everyone else.”
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