Agenda Item#__________
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
June 7, 2016
Agenda Report#_______
TO: Mayor and Councilors
SUBJECT: 9-1-1 charges
INITIATED BY: Finance Department
Recommendation: Approve a resolution reaffirming the $1.50 charge for 9-1-1,
including Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), the $1.00 charge for enhanced
wireless 9-1-1 to continue per billable telephone for another year, and the
$0.75 charge for 9-1-1 per retail transaction for prepaid wireless services.
Background: O.C.G.A. ?46-5-134 states that the local government operating or
contracting for the operation of a 9-1-1 and enhanced wireless 9-1-1 system is
to reaffirm ?by resolution? on an annual basis the amount of the surcharge.
The ?9-1-1? and the enhanced wireless ?9-1-1? 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.
On December 18, 2007, Columbus Consolidated Government authorized by resolution
the $1.50 9-1-1 charge to include Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
connection subscribed to by persons whose billing address is within Muscogee
County, Georgia based on Georgia law, O.C.G.A. ?46-5-133 which states that
authorized local governments are authorized to charge up to a maximum of $1.50
per billable telephone per month upon each telephone service subscribed to by
telephone subscribers whose exchange access lines are in the areas served or
which would be served by the 9-1-1 service.
O.C.G.A. ?46-5-121 states that the local government operating or contracting
for the operation of a 9-1-1 and enhanced wireless 9-1-1 system is to reaffirm
?by resolution? on an annual basis the amount of the surcharge.
The ?9-1-1? and the enhanced wireless ?9-1-1? 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 9-1-1, enhanced wireless 9-1-1 charges, and prepaid wireless
services for another year and authorizes use of a separate fund known as the
Emergency System Telephone Fund.
Financial Considerations: The 9-1-1 funds may be expended for the lease,
purchase or maintenance of telephone equipment, costs associated with the 9-1-1
service supplier including recurring charges, salaries for 9-1-1 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 $1,200,000 of revenue in FY2017.
The enhanced wireless 9-1-1 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 ?9-1-1? call from a wireless
telecommunications connection. Thirty cents of the enhanced wireless 9-1-1
charge 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 9-1-1 surcharge
is expected to provide $1,400,000 of revenue in FY2017.
Legal Considerations: O.C.G.A. ?46-5-134 states that the local government
operating or contracting for the operation of a 9-1-1 system and enhanced
wireless 9-1-1 system is to reaffirm ?by resolution? on an annual basis the
surcharge.
Recommendations/Actions: Approve a resolution reaffirming the $1.50 charge for
9-1-1, including Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), the $1.00 charge for
enhanced wireless 9-1-1 to continue per billable telephone for another year,
and the $0.75 charge for 9-1-1 per retail transaction for prepaid wireless
services.
Attachments
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