Ballot issue will seek money for 911 system improvements

Hoping to upgrade what they say is an aging 911 system, Madison County commissioners will ask voters to approve a replacement levy on the May ballot that would raise property taxes.

Commissioners voted Monday to move forward with a request to raise taxes from the current 0.8 mill to 1.0 mill, which would increase the annual cost for taxpayers to $35, from $28, per $100,000 of property value.

Commissioner David Hunter said the current emergency system is adequate for now. But he said his responsibility is to prevent any future problems.

“We have to renovate the 911 system and get it back on track to where it needs to be with new technology,” Hunter said. “Our biggest problem is that we don’t want the system to fail, and it’s getting some age on it.”

According to the Madison County sheriff’s office, which operates the countywide 911 system, more than 30,000 incidents were dispatched last year. There were another 54,000 non-emergency calls.

Hardware to operate the system’s core services already has been purchased and is gradually being installed, said Sheriff Jim Sabin. The combination of technology-related cost increases and increased demand for service is the reason for the higher levy, he said.

The current levy, which will expire next year, generates about $616,000 per year. It has been renewed or replaced every five years since the inception of county 911 operations in 1990.

A replacement levy at 0.08 mill would generate about $926,000 annually. The proposed 1.0-mill levy would generate nearly $1.2 million a year, officials said.

In addition to physical upgrades, the sheriff also is considering adding a third 911 technician during peak hours of operation.

Sabin said no one is disputing the need to maintain such an important service.

“I was told two years ago that the system was nearing its end of life,” he said. “I think we’ve done pretty well with it.”