Decision reached on payment for 911 communication costs

The Hamilton County Communication Center handles nearly 500,000 calls per year for cities, towns and townships in Hamilton County. Prior to a recent resolution by the Hamilton County Commissioners, the cities of Noblesville, Westfield, Fishers and Carmel have funded the Communication Center. Now small towns and townships will be charged a user fee. (Reporter file photo by Stu Clampitt)

Posted By: Fred Swift June 14, 2018

For one year only . . .

Towns and townships in northern Hamilton County will get a reprieve of sorts next year from paying 911 communication costs. County Commissioners this week adopted a resolution calling for the 10 departments to start making token payments of 10 percent of the costs incurred in responding to calls for fire, police or EMS services.

At the present time all Hamilton County police and fire departments have 911 calls dispatched through the county 911 emergency call center located at the Sheriff’s Department. Noblesville, Carmel, Fishers, Westfield and county government pay for the operation entirely.

Last year county officials said that with a growing number of calls and increasing expenses it would be only fair for the smaller departments to contribute to cover their portion of expenses. The northern communities were asked to pay amounts ranging from $135,000 for Sheridan to $17,000 for White River Township.

Talks with municipal and county officials have been ongoing for months without resolution. This month units of local government begin preparing budgets for 2019, thus the decision to seek at least some contribution from all communities.

Dillinger

County Commissioner Steve Dillinger said that for 2019 only, the token amounts will be expected, meaning Sheridan would pay about $13,500 and White River only $1,700.

For the following year a proposal to enact a public safety local option income tax (LOIT) is expected to be introduced to the County Council. This tax would be used to pay the 911 communication costs, now running more than $1 million a year and growing. If enacted, the larger units of Noblesville, Carmel, Westfield and Fishers would no longer have to contribute from their treasuries, but every county income taxpayer would pay a small amount from their individual income.

Officials said earlier this year that although some 911 calls are false alarms and duplications, dispatchers answered nearly 500,000 phone calls during the past year. Although the number seems unusually large, with a county population of about 320,000, it is not unreasonable. The call center must be prepared to quickly answer every call as a rapid response is often vital.

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