CARLISLE, Pa. — State lawmakers will be returning to work on Monday and emergency management officials are making a final plea to get them to pass an increase to the 911 surcharge.
The current $1.65 surcharge for all phones is set to expire on January 31, 2024. On Friday, Cumberland County officials called on lawmakers to authorize a .32-cent increase to $1.97, to continue funding 911 services.
“911 is like an insurance policy," said Mike Snyder, the operations manager for the Cumberland County 911 Call Center. "We hope to never use our homeowners or auto insurance, but a lot of times, things are outside our control.”
Snyder said the current surcharge, which has been in place since 2015, only covers about 59% of Cumberland County's budget for 911 services. The county pays around $4 million a year to cover the shortfall in funding.
He said not increasing the surcharge, or letting it expire, would make it hard to update technology and hire and retain staff, meaning taxpayers would be on the hook.
“It would be felt more by citizens and small businesses, and we want to keep the delivery of services as fair as possible," said Snyder.
Scott Little, the chief of the Manheim Township Fire Department in Lancaster County, said the surcharge funding helps improve the communication systems between firefighters and 911 dispatchers. He said a lack of funding would negatively impact first responders.
“That’s a direct impact to our first responders out on the street, who are out there every day and doing their work, and communicating with what is our lifeline," said Chief Little.
Snyder said the surcharge increase is an investment to help keep people safe across the Commonwealth.
“We want to make sure that if people experience these critical incidents, that we have the tools, the technology, and the people available to help them," said Snyder.
Legislation to reauthorize and increase the surcharge is stuck in the Senate.