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Council committee hears competing views on proposed $9.88 988 fee to fund crisis response
Summary
Witnesses and DBH officials told the Committee on Health that a modest telecommunications fee could create a $12.5 million annual fund to shore up 988, mobile crisis teams and stabilization centers — but industry groups warned the proposed rate is high and urged a cost study.
The Committee on Health heard extensive testimony supporting a proposed telecommunications fee intended to finance the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the city's crisis-response continuum. Chris Gamble of the Children's Law Center told the committee the $9.88 fee would produce about $12,500,000 annually and "ensure predictable funding as the district works to develop a cohesive crisis response system."
Supporters said predictable local revenue could expand 988 staffing, bolster mobile crisis teams for adults and youth, open stabilization centers and create transparent public reporting (a proposed "988 dashboard") so the council and residents can track call volume and response times. "988 is a lifeline for residents in crisis," Kristen Ewing of DC Appleseed said, urging the council to pair funding with performance standards and public reporting.
Industry witnesses pushed back on the size and scope of the fee. Jake Lesock, representing CTIA, said the wireless industry supports 988 but warned the proposed $9.88 monthly charge would make D.C. the highest in the country and called the amount "regressive" for vulnerable households. He recommended a neutral cost analysis before adopting the rate and said any fee should focus narrowly on call-center infrastructure rather than broader outreach or wraparound services.
DBH Director Barbara Bazaron told the committee DBH supports the bill's intent to create a special revenue fund but recommended the executive branch determine whether to impose a new fee during budget formulation. Bazaron described current 988 staffing and operations, saying DBH currently has 12 FTE dedicated for 988 plus 26 Access Helpline staff who are cross-trained to answer 988 calls. She told the committee that call volumes for the access line were about 10,200 in FY 2024 and called for careful controls to ensure any new fund is used only for eligible 988 purposes.
The committee asked DBH about allowable uses and internal controls; DBH cited federal audit requirements and said it has restructured call routing and reporting to track 988-specific work. Chair Henderson said the fund is intended as a baseline to avoid starting from zero if federal support changes and asked staff to work with stakeholders to refine eligible uses and consumer protections. The record remains open for written comment through Dec. 29.
