Commissioners press for state action on 911 surcharge, discuss dispatch costs and $8 million TAN

Carbon County commissioners used their reports segment to criticize state lawmakers for embedding a 911 surcharge into the state budget and to outline local funding pressures for dispatch and public safety communications. Commissioners also discussed county cash-flow needs, including preparation for an $8 million tax anticipation note (TAN).

Speaker 7 sharply criticized what he described as state-level handling of the surcharge and urged local state representatives to pursue amendments. He said the current surcharge is $1.95 (passed about two years earlier) and that Carbon County’s share of the funding is “over $2,000,000,” adding that portions are distributed for interoperability and operations. He described rising equipment and staffing costs — citing roughly $10,000 for a portable radio and a grant application of about $5,400,000 to upgrade communications infrastructure and tower sites — and argued counties often bear the ongoing operational and staffing burden.

Speaker 1 discussed county cash management and the planned $8 million TAN, saying the county used roughly half of a similar note last year and repaid it by July; the goal is to draw less from the TAN this year while using parking-lot revenues to offset shortfalls and to avoid excessive borrowing. Commissioners also discussed delayed state payments to providers (Children and Youth providers reported not receiving checks since July) and the strain that budget impasses place on county operations.

No formal county action on the surcharge or the TAN was taken at the meeting; commissioners recorded the discussion and requested staff follow-up as needed.