More 911 dispatch money sought

Broward Sheriff Scott Israel is asking for an additional $2.3 million for operations of the 911 dispatch system, the latest in an ongoing tug-of-war between the sheriff and county.

The county in October 2014 launched a dispatch system that covers all the cities, so callers don’t have to wait while their emergency call is transferred. Two cities, Plantation and Coral Springs, don’t participate. The county pays Broward Sheriff’s Office to operate it.

But the system has been dogged by troubles with technology, aging radios and dispatcher difficulties. And the sheriff’s office has repeatedly said more money is needed. Israel in May asked for a $6.2 million increase to $45.4 million, or 16 percent more, to operate the system.

A recent consultant’s report said the system isn’t operating efficiently and doesn’t need more money. Fitch and Associates praised the call-taking and dispatch but did not support the sheriff’s demands for more money.

The $2.3 million Israel is asking for now is to balance his books for the budget year that ended Sept. 30.

Commissioners Tuesday said they don’t have enough information to give the sheriff the money.

“For us to just arbitrarily say, ‘Gee, you’re really nice people. I think I’m going to give you $2 million today;’ we can’t function like that,” Commissioner Lois Wexler said. “It’s got to be verified. It’s got to be datadriven.”

Though it wasn’t the chief selling point, advocates for the new countywide system predicted there would be financial savings. It ’s unclear whether that will be true.

Israel told the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board recently that the system is “performing in an amazing manner” but needs more money.

“They are severely under-budgeted,” he said. “I’m going to be asking for the amount of money we need to successfully manage and operate the system, and if we don’t get the money I know we need to make Broward County the safest we can, there’s a very good chance I’m going to write a letter to the county, a year notice to get out” of operating it, he said.

Based on those comments, Pembroke Pines Commissioner Jay Schwartz is proposing his city take over the call center in their boundaries. Pines commissioners will discuss it at their Wednesday meeting, he said.