Mayors Press Saint Clair County for Clearer Central-dispatch Cost Shares as Fees Rise

Mayors from across Saint Clair County pressed the commission on a proposed increase in central-dispatch fees, telling commissioners the numbers they received were inconsistent and left municipal leaders unable to budget. Mayor Rusty Jessup said the first number circulated was a 10% hike, then later a 5% recommendation, and asked county staff to provide the detailed cost breakdown that justifies municipalities’ shares. “Our clerks have been buzzing all over town trying to figure out where these numbers came from,” Jessup said, urging staff to share the underlying data so city councils and police chiefs can understand the change.

Commissioners and the county’s 9-1-1 director explained that the contract allows allocations based on call volume, which commissioners noted can create large swings for some cities. The chair said operational figures on one page showed $3,000,382 while another total closer to $3.8–$3.9 million was later referenced by staff (Freddie), and acknowledged the discrepancy: “Part of that is because he takes some of that dispatch funding and uses it at other places that won't show up on here necessarily,” the chair said. Multiple mayors recommended a predictable formula—such as indexing to CPI or an annual 5% adjustment—so small municipalities are not hit with sudden large increases; the commission agreed to share more detailed figures and to convene earlier budget conversations with the mayor’s association to improve predictability.

What’s next: Commissioners asked staff to deliver a clear, line-item breakdown of dispatch operating costs and the method used to apportion municipal shares. The county plans to meet with municipal leaders before finalizing the FY ’27 contract.