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Commissioners debate placing $1.50 9-1-1 surcharge on November ballot; decision postponed
Summary
A supervisors' association representative urged a countywide $1.50 9-1-1 surcharge to replace aging 800 MHz radios and add call-center staffing; commissioners raised concerns about timing, radio counts, long-term fiscal commitments and public notice and voted to postpone final action to a special meeting to allow further review.
A representative of the Township Supervisors Association presented a countywide proposal to authorize up to a $1.50 monthly 9-1-1 surcharge to fund replacement of aging 800 MHz portable radios and bolster call-center staffing. The presenter summarized a December radio study and two recent multi-agency incidents (a drowning recovery and a school lock-down) to illustrate interoperability benefits and projected revenue of roughly $2.46 million from the surcharge.
"The largest revenue source, of course, is the $9.11 surcharge, 2,460,000 a year," the presenter said while walking commissioners through revenue, bond and discount assumptions for purchasing an estimated 641 radios (272 police, 369 fire) and the potential annual bond repayment scenarios. He described a conservative 31% off list-price assumption and projected that radio debt service could be covered while leaving funds for call-center staff and technology.
Multiple commissioners asked for more time, independent vetting of the radio counts and clarity on who would pay and when. Commissioner Kennedy urged public notice, noting that a $1.50 monthly surcharge could be material for some households and businesses. Administration confirmed the county clerk's deadline for ballot wording is August 11 at 4 p.m., and the board moved to postpone a final vote until a special meeting on Monday to allow further review and input.
The board scheduled the special meeting and directed administration to incorporate commissioner concerns and provide additional detail on radio counts, bonding effects and possible phased levy/assessment options.
