Genesee County, MI – On Wednesday morning, the Genesee County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to postpone a decision on a resolution from the Genesee County 9-1-1 Dispatch Authority. The resolution, if approved, would place a proposal on the August 6 ballot to extend and increase the 9-1-1 surcharge from $1.86 to $3.00. The Board will reconvene with representatives from 9-1-1 prior to taking up consideration of the resolution on May 1.
“We think it’s important for the public to know that 9-1-1 will continue to operate as it does today, whether or not an increase is placed before voters this year,” said District 7 Commissioner Martin Cousineau, chair of the Finance Committee.
Cousineau added: “Before anything goes on the ballot, we must ensure that we’ve done everything we can to hold residents harmless from a surcharge increase unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
The surcharge was last renewed by voters at its current rate in 2021 and is paid by residents on all landline, wireless and voice over internet protocol (VOIP) service devices located within Genesee County. The Board of Commissioners cannot raise the surcharge to $3.00, which is the maximum allowed by law. The increase requires the approval of a majority of voters in Genesee County. The role of the Board of Commissioners is limited in scope in matters related to the 9-1-1 Dispatch Authority. The Board approves the appointment of two commissioners to the executive board and determines if requests like this one from the 9-1-1 Dispatch Authority should be put before Genesee County voters.
During the Finance Committee meeting, commissioners expressed their support for Genesee County 9-1-1, but also wanted more time to review information provided to justify an increase.
“We have time to process and digest these numbers, and I need that time,” said District 4 Commissioner Dr. Beverly Brown.
Brown added: “I wouldn’t feel like I was doing my job as a commissioner if I didn’t take the time to do that. We have to exhaust every resource, and leave no stone unturned, before we place something like this on the ballot.”
District 8 Commissioner Dale K. Weighill echoed the sentiment, making clear that the vital service provided to residents by Genesee County 9-1-1 is not in jeopardy.
“We are not on the precipice of 9-1-1 not being able to pay its bills,” Weighill said. “My view is that we still need some additional information, but we are not going to leave 9-1-1 high and dry.”
