State Senate considering raising surcharge to fund 911 call centers

(Harrisburg) — The debate over increasing a monthly surcharge funding 911 call centers is moving on to the state Senate.

Richard Flinn, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, says going to a statewide monthly charge of a $1.65 resolves immediate needs.

Speaking in front of a Senate committee, he admits he’s not sure about the future.

“This currently supports it, and it puts the band aid on it. But my approach and even my discussion with the Governor is that we recognize that it doesn’t do a long-term solution,” says Flinn.

Flinn says a number of factors could affect future costs, including how many people go to using cell phones exclusively.

The current fee ranges between a $1 and $1.50 a month depending on the municipality, but the proposal makes it a flat $1.65 fee statewide.

The House has already overwhelmingly approved the legislation.

Because counties have increasingly had to pick up the tab to run a 911 center, the County Commissioners Association of Pennsvlvania has been pushing for the change.

Executive Director Doug Hill says not only are more municipalities turning to county-level centers, but they’re relying on the county for more services.

“Initially, it was still municipal fire department, EMS all did their own dispatch. Over time, we’ve taken most of that in. I think there’s maybe two in Erie, one here in Dauphin County, six in Allegheny. You get the idea. Very few municipalities are doing their own dispatch any longer,” says Hill.

Critics complain Pennsylvania already has one of the highest 911 surcharges in the U-S, but Hill notes the fee is meant to fund the entire system, with no help from government.