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Council introduces ordinance to raise monthly 9-1-1 surcharge to $4.25; public hearing to follow
Summary
The County Council voted to introduce legislation to raise the monthly 9-1-1 surcharge from the current $2 to $4.25 to help fund the county's 9-1-1 center; introduction passed and a public hearing will be scheduled.
A county council member introduced legislation during the March 18 Dorchester County Council meeting to raise the monthly 9-1-1 surcharge from $2 to $4.25 to support the county's emergency communications center.
The introducer said the 9-1-1 center has an annual budget of about $1.9 million and that, at a previous surcharge level the speaker described as $1.50 per line, the county collected about $660,000. The council member said increasing the surcharge to $4.25 per month per line would produce roughly $1.8 million in fees to help fund the center.
"I move that we, introduce a piece of legislation that would increase it from the $2 that it's supposed to be to $4.25," the council member said. The motion to introduce the ordinance was seconded and the council voted to introduce the measure by unanimous voice vote; the introducer and other council members clarified this action only begins the legislative process, and any change would require a public hearing before final adoption.
Council members and staff noted the introduction did not increase the fee immediately; the measure will be drafted and scheduled for public hearing and further council consideration. The county identified the Department of Emergency Communications 9-1-1 center as the beneficiary of the proposed revenue increase.
