The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) has approved a 60-cent surcharge on all 911 calls routed through telephone, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or fax to Calhoun County addresses and this will be effective at from next month.
The commission approved 33 cent in March but after an appeal has to succumb to 60 cent early agitated for. The extra 27 cents will net an additional $189,458 in 2008 revenue for 911, county officials said. Most of that will help consolidate Battle Creek, Albion, Marshall and county dispatch services.
Although, only land lines are assessed 911 surcharges, Michigan lawmakers in December expanded that to all phone lines to even the burden as cell phone use increases. That goes into effect July 1.The county currently charges 65 cents to land lines.The law requires 2008 911 revenues not increase more than 2.7 percent from 2007, thus the 33-cent rate. But Calhoun County sought an appeal, saying 33 cents would trash consolidation efforts and not make up for declining 911 revenue.
Calhoun County Commissioner Jase Bolger, R-Marshall, said on Tuesday the planned consolidation could save the county $1.5 million over the next five yearsThose savings would come from lower operational and upkeep costs; no current dispatchers will be laid off, said Calhoun County Administrator Greg Purcell.
Purcell believes that the decision made on Tuesday by MPSC will speed up consolidation efforts. He said, "One thing everybody needs to be aware of is the state approved the 60-cent surcharge on the fact we're working on consolidation. This needs to say to everybody we need to consolidate."
Meanwhile, before the decision on Tuesday Municipalities in the area continued consolidation planning meetings while awaiting the appeal, but had no final numbers on funding. Now that picture's clearer.
The dispatch center will be at either Battle Creek or Marshall. Marshall's a central location, but new capital cost estimates show putting it in Battle Creek might be cheaper.
Assistant Battle Creek City Manager Ken Tsuchiyama said Wednesday putting it in Battle Creek would cost between $300,000 and $400,000. Preliminary figures for a Marshall location were much higher but not firm, he said. He said he hoped to have more solid figures this week."From a Battle Creek standpoint, it's simply which location really serves the community's best interests, whether from a financial standpoint or operational standpoint," Tsuchiyama said.Dispatch could operate from anywhere, he said.
While speaking on how it will be governed, Purcell said that the first would be a governing body made of two representatives from Battle Creek and one each from Marshall, Albion, the county, the Area Metropolitan Services Agency (Battle Creek, Springfield and Emmett, Pennfield, Bedford, Leroy and Newton townships), the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department, the Michigan State Police and a township. The second tier would be a technical committee made up of local police, fire and ambulance authorities. How those representatives are elected is yet to be decided.
On the funding, Purcell explained that 60-cent surcharge will help repay money borrowed for installation costs for the new dispatch center. Each community pays for 911 services.The plan is to cap the amount everybody pays for five years, Purcell said. Afterward, it would be revisited and the phone surcharge could fund operations entirely.Once these questions are answered, representatives from municipalities will draft an inter-local agreement each city's government, county commissioners and AMSA all will have to approve, Purcell said. The county hopes to consolidate by Jan. 1.Labels: Fax-over-IP, VoIP News
