A bill to update county 911 systems is on the fast track to Gov. Bob Taft's desk before the General Assembly recesses for the summer this Thursday.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Larry Flowers, R-Canal Winchester, former fire chief for Madison Township for 22 years, adds a 32 cent monthly tax to every wireless number in the state. The money goes into a pool from which $25,000 goes to each county upgrading their 911 systems to track emergency calls from wireless phones.
The remaining money is distributed to counties proportional to the number of wireless subscriptions in each county. A small percentage of the tax goes to wireless carriers to recoup cost for upgrading their systems, Flowers said.
The bill passed the House of Representatives May 12 by a 77-20 vote and will be heard today in the Senate Public Utilities Committee.
Rep. Jimmy Stewart, R-Athens, voted against the bill.
The way the money is distributed is not fair
he said. The $25 000 per county should be more. The first year the tax should generate $13 million about 95 percent goes back to counties. $2.2 million will go into the $25
000 per county. That means
guess what? Franklin
Cuyahoga and Hamilton counties get the most money. The infrastructure cost is not that proportionally that expensive.
Meigs County, which is in Stewart's and Sen. Joy Padgett's congressional districts, along with Monroe County, which is just in Padgett's district, do not have a 911 system.
Padgett, R-Coshocton, said the bill is putting the cart before the horse.
My concern is not that it's a good idea
she said. However
we have counties that do not have enhanced (traces calls from wireline phones) 911. I've argued about this issue before when I was in the House. Another situation that people need to be aware of is that when you're in the hills
wireless 911 is not going to be there to assist you all the time.
Flowers said the funding system is fair.
Metropolitan counties get the most money because the majority of people in those counties are paying that money
he said.
Doug Bentley, Chief of Operations for Athens County Emergency Management Agency, said the county has a contract with Intrado -a company that offers 911 system services -ready to enact if the bill passes.
We're just waiting for a cost recovery mechanism
he said.
The contract is $16,900 for equipment, and Bentley said it will take less than two weeks to complete. The county also will pay a $1,550 monthly fee for access to the national wireless database.
Sprint spokeswoman Jennifer Walsh said Sprint has prepared its national network to work with local officials in implementing the system.
Padgett said she would be very surprised if the bill passes the Senate before summer recess, but Flowers said he expects it to.
I believe having this technology will save lives
