COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 during their Thursday work session to bring forward to next week’s regular meeting a request to approve a nearly $191,000 payment to the 911 Communications Project Consultant from the 911 surcharge fees.
The Branch County 911 Board decided during their March 8 meeting to pay the consultant from the millage surcharge fees rather than out of the 911 budget.
Approval is being sought from the Board of Commissioners but Commission Chair Tim Stoll expressed his misgivings on Thursday.
Stoll felt the 911 Fund Balance should be used for the payment.
911 Director Bob Swick said that the State 911 Committee determines what funds can be used for.
Branch County voters approved the enhanced 911 central dispatch surcharge request in November of 2020 by over 1,000 votes.
It allowed Branch County 911 to increase the monthly surcharge by a maximum of $2.52 per phone device which put the total monthly cost at $2.94 per device.
The surcharge ballot question was backed by police and fire departments around Branch County as they said the new 800/700 MHz Radio System would provide better coverage and increase safety. The new radio system replaced an old system that dated back to the early 1990’s.
The surcharge was scheduled to raise about $2-point-4 million annually for six years starting in July of 2021.
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