Support 911: “Seconds Matter” Daily Interlake Editorial A fact sheet about the proposed ballot measure to provide ongoing funding for Flathead County’s 911 dispatch center aptly points out that in emergencies, “seconds matter.” Whatever the emergency — a car accident, house fire or any number of disasters — we rely on first responders. When it’s a matter of life or death, yes, seconds do matter. That’s why it’s critical that the 911 dispatch center for Flathead County find a way to continue funding the operation. Voters will have an opportunity to decide the center’s future. It’s as simple as that. When the state-of-the-art center was built five years ago, county and city officials knew the consolidated dispatch operation would need to determine a way to sustain operational funding. Money has been tight, Sheriff Chuck Curry has acknowledged, saying “we’re making payroll and paying the power bill and that’s kind of it.” The ballot measure for the Nov. 4 general election will ask voters whether or not to adopt a special emergency communications district that will provide funding for the 911 dispatch center. This, by the way, is completely separate from the ambulance levy that Kalispell residents are voting on, and though the Inter Lake supports both measures, they should each be considered on their own merits. The 911 dispatch center will cost money — a $25 flat rate annually for a residential property and $50 a year per “unit” for commercial businesses. The district would use a funding formula for commercial properties that’s similar to the way the county Solid Waste District is funded: The more “units” of garbage a business produces, the more it pays, up to a maximum of 30 units. This dual funding system is designed to provide an equitable approach based on the fact that all residences in the county have the same privilege and ability to dial 911 when they need it, as do businesses where hundreds of thousands of people might work or visit each day. The new district’s budget for a five-year period is estimated at $3.9 million a year, of which $1.8 million would be raised from the special district fees. No one wants a bigger tax bill, but passing this ballot measure is critical if we want to maintain a dispatch center that can meet our needs during those most dire times in our lives. Curry pointed out that even though the computer software and equipment at the 911 dispatch center was state-of-the-art when it was built, it now needs to be upgraded and there’s no room in the current budget for upgrades or equipment replacement. Do we want a dispatch center that can provide the highest level of response to life-saving and other emergencies? In our heart of hearts, we know this ballot measure must pass. We know that seconds matter.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 21:03:29 +0000
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