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Carbon County urges state to reauthorize 911 law and raise surcharge to fund NG911
Summary
Commissioners adopted a resolution urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to reauthorize Chapter 53 of Title 35 (911 Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act), increase the 911 surcharge to $2.20 with an annual COLA, and approve a five‑year reauthorization to help fund next‑generation 911 systems statewide.
The Carbon County Board of Commissioners on May 21 adopted Resolution #26‑020 urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to reauthorize Chapter 53 of Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and increase the 911 surcharge to $2.20, including an annual cost‑of‑living adjustment, to support implementation of next‑generation 911 (NG911) technologies across the commonwealth.
The resolution, introduced as agenda item #26‑382, states that the current surcharge and funding structure do not fully cover the operational costs of Carbon County’s 911 services and that the scheduled sunset of the surcharge authorization on January 31, 2029, risks shifting more costs to local property taxpayers. It asks for an updated reauthorization before December 31, 2026, and favors a five‑year reauthorization period to allow evaluation of funding mechanisms as technologies evolve.
The resolution cites previous statewide actions including Act 12 (2015) and Act 34 (2023) and notes that counties remain primary service providers for 911. Commissioners Michael J. Sofranko, Wayne E. Nothstein and Rocky C. Ahner voted to adopt the resolution unanimously.
The board directed that copies of the resolution be transmitted to the county’s legislative delegation, Governor Josh Shapiro, and the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP). The resolution does not itself change county fees; it is a formal request to state lawmakers to amend state law and increase the surcharge collection to support NG911 deployment.
