News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Van Buren County E-911 wants the city of Spencer to increase the amount of money it pays for dispatch services to $50,000 annually.
“We’re obviously not going out of business tomorrow,” Van Buren County E-911’s Will Maxwell said. “At this the point, the inter-local agreement states funding with certainty so that E-911 and dispatching services may continued to be delivered in a manner that protects the life, health and property of all citizens.”
“Financially, we’re coming to a point where we can’t provide that any more.”
Spencer currently pays about $33,000 for dispatch services. However, Maxwell said the E-911 department currently operates about a $40,000 defecit. It continues to dip into its reserves to pay operating expenses. With about $78,000 left in the bank, Maxwell said the department will be out of business in roughly 18 months.
The agreement between Van Buren County, Spencer and E-911 calls for the county to pay 65 percent of the total amoung needed and Spencer to pay 35 percent. Maxwell said the county has agreed to increase its funding up to $100,000.
Further complicating the financial issue, Maxwell said the department must upgrade its routing equipment by 2019. That cost: just under $132,000.
Spencer council members heard the presentation but did not make a decision Thursday night.
Maxwell said the department could be forced to turn back dispatch services to both the city and county. E-911 would simply operate the 911 equipment.
