Wednesday, 16 July 2008
County ready for joint dispatch center
Joe Pyrah - Daily Herald
After years of planning and months of negotiations, the county is ready to off-load the management of its multi-jurisdictional 911 dispatch center.
The County Commission held a public hearing Tuesday morning that sets the table to move dispatch management for most of the county away from the Sheriff's Office to a yet-to-be-formed special service district, with the county as a member. Such a district will have to be approved by voters in November and would include all cities except Provo, Orem, Pleasant Grove and Springville, which all have their own dispatch systems.
The problem started years ago when the sheriff's dispatch was only charging a dollar or two per 911 call. But county officials saw they were losing substantial amounts of money at that rate and have been steadily increasing the cost per call for years, reaching $15.50 this year.
"They would help establish the level of service they want rather than the county saying 'This is what you're going to get,' " Sheriff Jim Tracy said.
The problem started years ago when the sheriff's dispatch was only charging a dollar or two per 911 call. But county officials saw they were losing substantial amounts of money at that rate and have been steadily increasing the cost per call for years, reaching $15.50 this year.
"They would help establish the level of service they want rather than the county saying 'This is what you're going to get,' " Sheriff Jim Tracy said.
What are they going to get?
• The district would decide what level of service they want from the dispatch.
• The district would establish a tax rate across the cities that would be used to meet that level.
• In the event of growth (there is no room at the current dispatch center for expansion, so that would be sooner rather than later) the district would determine how to handle it.
• Expansion could come in the form of moving to a larger location or adding a branch in the north or south end of the county. If expansion is needed, expect a tax increase.
• The district would decide what level of service they want from the dispatch.
• The district would establish a tax rate across the cities that would be used to meet that level.
• In the event of growth (there is no room at the current dispatch center for expansion, so that would be sooner rather than later) the district would determine how to handle it.
• Expansion could come in the form of moving to a larger location or adding a branch in the north or south end of the county. If expansion is needed, expect a tax increase.
At what cost?
The overall cost isn't likely to go ¬up -- at least initially -- because the special service district is mostly about oversight. But that isn't to say some valley residents won't see an increase in dispatch-related costs.
For example, everyone will pay the same tax rate. But if you live in a city with fewer 911 calls per capita than the next city over, you'll be shouldering a higher burden in regards to services rendered.
Leaders in those cities are apparently OK with that.
"Our communities are OK with that because we see over time that will work itself out," said Highland City Administrator Barry Edwards.
The overall cost isn't likely to go ¬up -- at least initially -- because the special service district is mostly about oversight. But that isn't to say some valley residents won't see an increase in dispatch-related costs.
For example, everyone will pay the same tax rate. But if you live in a city with fewer 911 calls per capita than the next city over, you'll be shouldering a higher burden in regards to services rendered.
Leaders in those cities are apparently OK with that.
"Our communities are OK with that because we see over time that will work itself out," said Highland City Administrator Barry Edwards.
Benefits
The county has been looking for ways to off-load the burden of dispatch management for some time. The commission and sheriff have been in sharp disagreement over how much to charge per call, with the sheriff recommending $15.50 and the commissioners wanting $23.
Tracy says a special service district would also mean better coordination among all the cities in an area where municipal boundaries often change from street to street.
The county has been looking for ways to off-load the burden of dispatch management for some time. The commission and sheriff have been in sharp disagreement over how much to charge per call, with the sheriff recommending $15.50 and the commissioners wanting $23.
Tracy says a special service district would also mean better coordination among all the cities in an area where municipal boundaries often change from street to street.
"The key to good public safety starts in dispatch. If it's wrong there, it's wrong the rest of the way up," Tracy said.
Did you know? In case of emergency, the county dispatch center has a red button behind glass. The "Punch Out" button transfers all calls to another dispatch center, such as Provo city, in the event the building has to be evacuated.
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