TECB Votes In-Favor Of New $1.50 E-911 Surcharge

The Tennessee Emergency Communications Board (TECB) has voted in favor of increasing the state’s E-911 surcharge to $1.50.

Board Member Steve Martini voted in favor of the surcharge increase Wednesday. He said dozens of E-911 districts have come forward with overwhelming support for the adjustment.

“I think the case has clearly been made for this body to act,” Martini said. “One of the duties of the TECB is to ensure proper funding. After all the evidence that’s been presented, I think it would be nothing short of a breech of duty and negligence if we didn’t act.”

Board members voted 6-3 in favor of increasing E-911 surcharges from $1.16 to $1.50.

A majority of the Upper Cumberland’s E-911 districts have expressed their support for the increase over the past few months.

Martini said the issue can’t be put off any longer for the sake of struggling districts across the state.

“We can kick this can down the road for months or years and study financials, structure, and we’ve done that. A lot of that’s been done and we’ve seen a lot of that,” Martini said. “$1.50 was deemed acceptable 20 years ago and 54 more times by this board in that time since then. So I think the need for the rate increase is more than clear.”

The new surcharge will not be implemented until passed via joint resolution by state lawmakers.