A year since 911 Consolidation for Oneida County. But, what does future hold for taxpayers?
-->By: Jennifer Lee
Updated: January 15, 2013
It has been a year since Oneida County's 911 Center has been taking emergency calls from all of its communities.
But, what does the future hold for tax payers in Oneida County as the budget for this type of service has been growing each year?
County Executive Anthony Picente says there is no question that the consolidation is costing more money for the county. And with the growing budget and a lack of funding, the last resort may be raising taxes for county residents.
Oneida County's 911 Center has marked its first year of fielding emergency calls made from all Oneida County communities.
County Executive Anthony Picente says the move has increased efficiency in public safety and work flow.
But, with the growing budget of the Call Center, the County Executive says there is a lack of revenue to help pay for the system.
"There are pieces we need it to make this system work better. And part of it is the 30 cent surcharge we have been trying to get on cell phones which will really get the burden off of tax payers," Picente.
Currently, the call center is being funded by property taxes and a 35 cent a month surcharge on landline phones.
But, more people are using cellphones and fewer using landlines. That means less money to fund the 911 Center.
Picente says he has been pushing for the cell surcharge, but has gotten no response from the state.
Raymond Philo, a former New Hartford Police Chief and a former member of the original 911 task force says there shouldn't be another surcharge added to providers.
He says the money collected by the state needs to now be distributed to the counties now doing the job.
"That all changed when we went to 911 dispatch in the 1990s and now it's county responsibility and there needs to be equitable sharing of that existing tax or surcharge or whatever," said Philo.
Mr. Philo says residents are currently paying that $1.20 surcharge that mostly goes to the state.
And since the burden of the 911 Center has been shifted from the state to the county, he says this legislation of intent should be looked over.
