Fiscal Court Considers Increasing 911 Tap Fee From $1.75 To $3.50 A Month
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Robert Moore
Herald Staff
[email protected]
The Mercer County Fiscal Court gave first reading to an ordinance increasing the tap fee on residential and commercial water meters from $1.75 per month to $3.50 a month. The tap fee pays for 911 services. The fiscal court was forced to make the move after running a $107,000 deficit for the past year. If given second reading, the increase goes into effect Nov. 1.
At their regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 24, the fiscal court also approved shifting money from other line items to pay the shortfall once they receive from Bluegrass 911 Communications, which has handled 911 operations for the county since 2021.
In the past, 911 operations were paid for by a fee collected on landline phones. But the number of land lines has been declining for decades. While there is a fee collected on some—but not all—cell phones, the revenue collected does not cover the expense of operations. Back in 2019, both Harrodsburg and Burgin voted to institute a $40 parcel to pay for 911 operations, which subsequently failed to pass for lack of a motion at a special-called hearing of the fiscal court. That left the county to use carryover funds to pay for the federally mandated service.
Last year, the fiscal court enacted the tap fee to for handle 911 operations. The collecting entities withhold three percent to cover their expenses.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Magistrate Tim Darland said the state needed to increase the 911 fee on cell phones.
“They got so many lobbyists in Frankfort that it ain’t going to happen,” Darland said.
Judge-Executive Sarah Steele said even with the fee hike, Mercer is still lower than surrounding counties. Steele had previously said Garrard and Lincoln are charging $4 tap fees.
“I’m just trying to pay our bills,” Steele said Tuesday. “It’s not my goal to have a big, fat bank account.”
She said the county will address the homeowners who are refusing to pay the tap fee.
“Everybody needs 911,” Steele said.
why is it the property owners pay for services that ALL people use???? Stop all taxes on property and have a flat sales tax so EVERY person pays their share!!!