Douglas County 9-1-1 center outlines staffing, funding and radio-system upgrades

Tony Foster, director of the Douglas County Emergency Communications Center, told the Board of County Commissioners at a Jan. 29 work session that the center is near full staffing and preparing for several major technology upgrades and contract renewals.

Foster said the center has budget authority for 35 positions and currently has 31 filled. "We currently have a budget authority for 35 positions," he said. He told commissioners the center operates on two 12-hour shifts and has four supervisors per shift, a quality-assurance supervisor and four training leads. Foster said the center’s average 9-1-1 call answer time in 2024 was 4.66 seconds and that 97% of calls were answered within 15 seconds.

The center is funded by a mix of local contributions and state 9-1-1 fees. "Currently 33.33% of the operating budget is provided by Douglas County, and then the City of Lawrence is at 60%. And then the City of Eudora is at 3.67 and Baldwin City at 3%," Foster said. He also noted the state 9-1-1 SAVES program provides about $620,000 a year that, by statute, can only be spent on 9-1-1 delivery technology and not personnel.

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