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Monroe County to keep $2 9‑1‑1 surcharge as staff finalizes budget
Summary
After a detailed budget update showing a narrowing shortfall, commissioners signaled support to keep the existing $2 local 9‑1‑1 surcharge; staff will prepare a recommended budget that retains the surcharge ahead of a Dec. 9 public hearing.
County finance staff presented four annualized options for the local 9‑1‑1 surcharge: maintain $2 (current), reduce to $1.44 (adds a roughly $1,000,000 general‑fund transfer), reduce to $1, or eliminate the local surcharge (which the presentation showed would shift about $3,550,000 to the general fund and produce a roughly $4,100,000 budget gap). Presenter reported the November shortfall fell from about $624,000 to $560,000 as numbers were refined.
The board discussed how surcharge revenue supports central dispatch operations and replacement of first‑responder radios; staff noted the last full radio purchase in 2018 cost just over $4,000,000 and estimated a current replacement could approach $6,000,000–$6,500,000. After discussion, county staff reported no objection to maintaining the surcharge: "I'm not hearing any objection to maintaining the surcharge," the presenter said, and he will include the $2 surcharge in the recommended budget and prepare materials for the Dec. 9 public hearing.
