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Mount Clemens commissioners table resolution backing Macomb County 42¢ 911 surcharge pending more information
Summary
Mount Clemens commissioners debated a county proposal to add a 42¢ monthly 911 surcharge to phone lines to fund dispatch upgrades, heard a detailed county explanation about statutory limits and infrastructure needs, and voted to table a local resolution seeking county approval until staff can provide more details on county spending and alternatives.
Mount Clemens commissioners on a motion Tuesday tabled a resolution that would have sent a supportive endorsement to the Macomb County Board for a proposed 42¢ monthly 911 surcharge.
The surcharge, explained by Greg Shipman, was described as permitted under Public Act 32 of 1986 and ‘‘42¢ is the max that they can charge without going to a vote of the people,’’ Shipman told the commission while outlining how the fee would be applied (per phone, up to 10 devices, then additional blocks of 10 devices). He said the charge is intended to help pay for major upgrades to the county’s 911 infrastructure, including a transition to fiber-optic systems and replacement of aging equipment.
Supporters noted the scale of needed upgrades. Shipman said some dispatch equipment is coming due for replacement in about two years and that upgrades — including new fiber connections and revised dispatch capacity — will be costly. He warned the county has not enacted such a supplemental charge in the past and that Macomb County is one of the few counties in the state without a local surcharge.
Several commissioners and residents pressed for more detail about how the county would allocate existing CARES or other federal funds toward 911 infrastructure and whether the proposed surcharge would ultimately be borne by municipalities or by residents. A resident asked why the county had not used prior federal allocations for infrastructure needs. Commissioner (speaker 2) said the commission should request that the county provide additional information and clarity before endorsing the measure.
‘‘I move to table the resolution relating to the 9 1 1 telephone surcharge until more information is provided by the county,’’ the commissioner said; the motion passed on roll call, with Menser voting No.
Next steps: the commission directed staff to request more detail from county officials about projected revenues, planned use of funds and whether alternatives to the surcharge exist. The County Board will still consider the measure; Mount Clemens’ resolution would have been one of several municipal inputs being collected prior to the county’s vote.
