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Dispatch director warns of 9‑1‑1 fund timing shortfall after $67,000 equipment bill; asks board for options
Summary
Page County dispatch director said a recent $67,000 Motorola bill and timing of surcharge receipts mean dispatch lacks cash on hand; director will negotiate with vendor and asked whether the county can advance funds if needed.
Summer, the county dispatch director, told supervisors that a $67,000 invoice from Motorola for radio/equipment charges exceeds her current cash-on-hand and that the 9‑1‑1 surcharge receipts arrive unevenly through the year.
Nut graf: Dispatch and 9‑1‑1 operations are financed primarily by a surcharge; because large vendor bills can arrive before expected surcharge receipts, the dispatch fund sometimes lacks sufficient cash to pay major invoices on short notice.
Key points from the discussion: - Summer said she currently does not have the $67,000 Motorola bill available in her 9‑1‑1 fund and is expecting a large quarterly surcharge check later; she told the board she will contact Motorola to request adjusted payment timing. She described a typical quarterly large check of about $36,000 and a series of smaller receipts and said she may be able to cover obligations once scheduled receipts arrive. - Summer asked whether the county can advance funds or temporarily loan the 9‑1‑1 fund so vendors are paid on time; supervisors advised speaking directly with Motorola first and exploring internal fund-transfer options if vendor negotiations fail. - Summer outlined other recurring 9‑1‑1 costs shifting into the dispatch/EMA budgets, including tower rental for a Hogue tower and electricity/generator service for towers; Emergency Management (Jill) confirmed a $135,000 general supplemental transfer to support emergency management services noted in the meeting.
Why it matters: interruptions to payments for mission-critical radio and dispatch equipment could affect ongoing maintenance and service contracts; the board must decide whether to allow inter‑fund borrowing or to adjust timing of transfers.
Quotation: Summer said, “I don't have that money because I haven't made that revenue yet from the surcharge,” describing the gap between vendor invoices and surcharge receipts.
Next steps: Summer will negotiate timing with Motorola; if that does not solve the timing gap, staff will investigate whether an internal county transfer or short-term loan from the general fund is permissible and advisable.
