Local control sought for 9-1-1 money

Texas council urge members to pass resolution to wrest oversight from state


Hoping to bring local control of fees charged to pay for 9-1-1 services, the Central Texas Council of Governments is asking its members to create a regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District.

“It was advantageous for us to stay (before) because we were getting more than the $6 million, we were putting in,” Executive Director of CTCOG Jim Reed said by phone Tuesday. “But this time, for the first time in 20 years, that number is going to be lower. The region had to decide: do we stay and take the hit, or is it time to control our own destiny?”

Residents and businesses are charged 50 cents on their phone bill to pay for 9-1-1 services. The money, which is collected by the State, is supposed to go back to the communities to pay for local dispatchers to route local first responders to local emergencies.

But, in an effort to keep their own budget balanced, the State doesn’t always allocate the full amount back to the local communities.

Nothing would change for people calling 9-1-1. Calls would still be taken by the same residents using the same equipment and cost the same to tax payers. But a board of directors made up of local elected officials would decide how the money is spent—not State officials.

Two weeks ago, the State informed all the participating regions of a $26.4 million “clerical error.” The error will cost CTCOG $2.4 million over four years and bars the region from replacing any infrastructure for four years. This includes security updates to harden the newly installed digital systems—some of which are required by law.

The CTCOG Executive Committee approved a resolution July 22 to create the Central Texas Regional 9-1-1 Emergency Communications District. The resolution must be passed by all 32 cities and seven counties.

At their Tuesday meeting, the Coryell County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to approve the new EDC. The Gatesville City Council will review the resolution at their Aug. 10 meeting.

Reed said a handful of other cities have already approved the resolution and he expected Bell County to have the final approval some time in December.