Columbus, Georgia

Agenda Item#____2____



Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting



June 7, 2005



Agenda Report#___81___





TO: Mayor and Councilors



SUBJECT: Monthly 911 charge



INITIATED BY: Finance Department

________________________________________________________________________________

___________



Recommendation: Approve a resolution reaffirming the necessity of the $1.50

charge for 911 and the $1.00 charge for enhanced wireless 911 to continue per

billable telephone for another year.



Background: O.C.G.A. ?46-5-134 states that the local government operating or

contracting for the operation of a 911 and enhanced wireless 911 system is to

reaffirm ?by resolution? on an annual basis the amount of the surcharge.



The ?911? and the enhanced wireless ?911? charges collected by the service

supplier shall be deposited and accounted for in a separate restricted revenue

fund known as the Emergency Telephone System Fund.



Analysis: The attached resolution addresses compliance with Georgia law in that

it reaffirms the 911 and enhanced wireless 911charges for another year and

authorizes use of a separate fund known as the Emergency System Telephone Fund.



Financial Considerations: The 911 funds may be expended for the lease, purchase

or maintenance of telephone equipment, costs associated with the 911 service

supplier including recurring charges, salaries for 911 personnel, office

supplies for public safety answering points, and the cost of leasing or

purchasing a building used as a public safety answering point. The surcharge is

expected to provide $1,300,880 of revenue in FY 2006.



The enhanced wireless 911 funds may be used to pay the nonrecurring and

recurring installation, maintenance, service, and network charges of a wireless

service supplier which are associated with providing automatic number

identification of a wireless telecommunications connection and the location of

the base station or cell site which receives a ?911? call from a wireless

telecommunications connection. Thirty cents of the enhanced wireless 911charge

shall be deposited in a restricted reserve account of the Emergency Telephone

phone designated as the Wireless Phase II Reserve Account to pay the

nonrecurring and recurring installation, maintenance, service, and network

charges of a wireless service supplier which are associated with providing

automatic number identification and automatic location identification of a

wireless telecommunications connection. The enhanced wireless 911 surcharge is

expected to provide $1,289,598 of revenue in FY 2006.



Legal Considerations: O.C.G.A. ?46-5-134 states that the local government

operating or contracting for the operation of a 911 system and enhanced

wireless 911 system is to reaffirm ?by resolution? on an annual basis the

surcharge.



Recommendations/Actions: Approve a resolution reaffirming the necessity of the

$1.50 charge for 911 and the $1.00 charge for enhanced wireless 911 to continue

per billable telephone for another year.