Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the 9 1 1 Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Clermont County commissioners weigh modest increase to 9-1-1 dispatch billing after five-year freeze
Summary
County staff presented options to adjust 9-1-1 dispatch billing after holding rates at an earlier level for five years. The board asked staff to prepare updated bills using an intermediate rate for jurisdictions' 2026 budgets and to return with a formal decision next week.
Clermont County officials discussed whether to change the fee charged to local jurisdictions for use of the county 9-1-1 communications center after holding the rate flat for five years.
Emily Akers, director of the Office of Management and Budget and 9-1-1 billing lead, told the board the county has held billing at the 2019 rate through expenses for 2020–2023 and that the county has absorbed nearly $348,000 in the difference during that period. Akers described three illustrative per-dispatch figures from the center’s cost-allocation formula: the 2019 rate the county held for several years, an intermediate “2021” rate and the full current cost-derived rate. Using Emily Akers’ presentation figures, the intermediate rate would raise the per-dispatch charge by roughly 2% compared with the long-standing 2019 figure; charging the full current rate would return a larger share of cost to user agencies.
Akers said billing at the full cost-derived rate would bring in about $559,000 from public-safety users, while the intermediate (2021) rate would bring in about $489,000. She told commissioners the communications center’s total annual operating cost (excluding capital) is $3,235,000. The board discussed the county’s prior use of federal COVID funds to offset part of the difference in earlier years; staff confirmed those credits reduced the county’s general-fund impact but that the county has continued to absorb costs since COVID-era funds were exhausted.
Commissioners said jurisdictions need a figure promptly for their 2026 budgets. Several commissioners signaled support for the intermediate rate. One commissioner summed up the board’s direction: prepare bills at the middle rate (the 2021 illustrative figure) and return with paperwork next week so local jurisdictions can plan for 2026. There was no formal vote recorded on a rate change during the meeting.
Direct quotes - Emily Akers: "We've continued to hold that flat for 2020, '21, '22, and '23 expenses. So we've had 5 years at that same rate…the county has absorbed additional just under $348,000." - Commissioner (summarizing board preference): "I don't think a 2% increase is out of the question when you've been able to hold it flat for 5 years."
Ending Staff will prepare updated billing figures using the intermediate rate and return to the commissioners next week so townships, villages and other users can include the amount in their 2026 budget preparations. A formal change to the billed rate will require a subsequent vote or administrative adoption documented in the board’s public record.
