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Commissioners set 2025 emergency telephone (E‑911) charge at $2.40; staff to explore moving dispatch costs into the E‑911 fund
Summary
Clear Creek County commissioners adopted a resolution setting the emergency telephone surcharge at $2.40 for 2025. County staff said they will review whether dispatch and GEFCOM contract expenses should be shifted into the emergency telephone fund and may pursue a Public Utilities Commission application to raise the fee later in the year.
The Clear Creek County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 21 adopted a resolution to set the county's emergency telephone (E‑911) surcharge at $2.40 for calendar year 2025.
Rachel (title: presenter) explained that the emergency telephone fund is intended to cover costs tied to E‑911 services, including maintenance and dispatch contracts. She told the board that the county's current fee is above the statewide Public Utilities Commission (PUC) average (the statewide figure was described as $2.12) and that some neighboring small counties charge about $3.00. She said staff will review fund balances and consider returning with a formal application to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to raise the county's surcharge to as much as $3.00, following the method used when the county last sought an increase.
Rachel also said the county is evaluating whether GEFCOM and dispatch services, which at present are charged across ambulance and general funds, should be budgeted directly inside the emergency telephone fund and then interfund reconciliation could return prior loans to general and ambulance funds when revenue permits.
Commissioners approved the resolution by motion; the board recorded a unanimous voice vote.
Why it matters: The discussion addresses how Clear Creek pays for 911 dispatch and emergency communications infrastructure. Reallocating recurring dispatch costs to the E‑911 fund and raising the surcharge would shift costs toward the users of the 911 system and reduce transfers from the general and ambulance funds.
Next steps: Staff will complete year‑end close work and audit adjustments, quantify a final fund balance, and report back with options — including a potential application to the PUC and a recommendation on whether to shift GEFCOM costs into the emergency telephone fund.
