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Our Opinions The Emergency-911 system has been good for Clarke County. A citizen just about anywhere in the county can simply dial the three digits for police, fire or medial assistance. The system is being enhanced to include mapping, search features and more that can better aid the public's safety. While the system overall merits good marks, there are a few areas that need attention. The news last week of the loss of a $5,000 computer when an emergency generator was hooked to it for a test revealed the need for surge protectors or other devices to prevent that from happening. Also, dispatchers overall do a good job but could use a little more training in giving better directions to emergency responders. We'd suggest that they be required to ride the county and become more familiar with roads and landmarks so that they can give better directions. They may know the county by a map but actually knowing the landscape can be a big help too. Despite these items, 911 does an overall good job. The system, like everything, isn't without its costs. The 911 budget runs about $400,000 annually with the county's general fund heavily subsidizing the operation, to the tune of about $100,000. Residential telephone customers pay a modest 75 cents a month for the service- or $9 a year. Businesses pay $1.88 a month per phone line. The growing number of cell phone users pay a ridiculous low quarter cent or so a month. The phone tariffs bring in less than $10,000 a month in revenue for 911. The Clarke County Commission is considering a hike in the phone tariff and one can be justified, given the low rates paid now and the enhanced features of the system. The law provides for a tariff not to exceed 5 percent of a phone bill. Clarke County's residential rate is almost at the bottom of the list statewide (only Tuscaloosa County's 50 cent-rate is less). Our neighbors Choctaw and Wilcox counties have some of the highest tariffs in the state, over $3 a month for residents and businesses alike. A number of counties collect between $1 and $2 a month in at least residential fees. We don't think a rate increase can or should make up the $100,000 911 deficit. However, it isn't asking too much for residents to pay more than $9 a year for such a valuable service. And the tariff certainly needs to be more than a quarter of a cent on cell phones. Doubling the residential rate to $1.50 would not be out of line with many other rural counties in the state.
We won't suggest a rate but we do believe some modest increase would be appropriate to help with 911 funding and to ease the strain on the county's general fund.
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