Ocean County asks for release of 911 System and Emergency Response fees

911 dispatch tlsWith more than 320,000 calls answered annually by Ocean County’s Sheriff Department 911 public safety dispatchers, officials are calling upon the state to release funds collected since 2009 from telecommunication surcharges earmarked for the 911 service.

“Since 2009, the state of New Jersey has failed to provide funding for eligible expenses to local 911 centers operated by counties and municipalities across the state,” said Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy. “Instead, this funding has been diverted for ineligible expenses such as funding for the state’s Department of Law and Public Safety.

“These funds should be coming back to the counties where they can be used for technology upgrades and staffing,” Mastronardy said. “911 is a key service to our citizens. In many instances it is a crucial lifeline. The state should be investing in it as outlined by federal regulations.”

Ocean County Freeholder Director John P. Kelly, who serves as Director of Law and Public Safety, noted the county has consistently provided funds to upgrade the 911 dispatch center.

“The Board of Freeholders is well aware of how important this service is to the residents of Ocean County,” Kelly said. “These funds would be a big help in making certain our residents are well served.”

Ocean County’s emergency dispatching 911 operations were relocated in 2013 into a new home with room to meet future needs of the County and state-of-the-art equipment.

“Despite the lack of funding from the state, this Board and our Sheriff all recognize the great importance of this service and continue to make the necessary investments to keep pace with technology while the state redirects the money earmarked especially for this elsewhere,” Kelly said.

With its continued population growth in Ocean County along with its ongoing popularity in warm weather doubling its population, the County continues to update and enhance the operations of this vital service.

Work on expanding the 911 dispatching center which moved to an existing warehouse on Chestnut Street, here, got under way in late 2012 and the expansion completed in 2013, provided over 16,000 square feet for a new enlarged 911 center.

The expanded call center has 13 state-of-the-art police and 13 fire dispatch consoles and a total of 25 stations. The new center was built with an eye toward more population growth. Under the plan, the County has the ability to further expand by at least 25 percent.

“We provided new consoles and recently had all new dispatch software installed,” Kelly said.

In addition, Sheriff Mastronardy installed a new digital switch allowing for text messages to 911.

“We took care of it because it’s important to public safety in our County; yet, the state again has failed to provide the funding.” Kelly said.

He noted the steps taken by the County are part of the first phase of improvements to the service.

The 911 operation which is overseen by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, with the ongoing support of the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders dispatches for 40 fire departments, 32 emergency first aid squads and 12 police agencies in the county.

According to county officials, New Jersey annually collects from consumers about $120 million in telecommunication surcharges and deposits the money into the 911 System and Emergency Trust Fund.

“The state of New Jersey has collected over $1.25 billion in fees since 2006 with only 11 percent of the money being spent on eligible expenses,” Mastronardy said.

Mastronardy’s request to the freeholders to pass a resolution asking the Governor and State Legislature properly allocate 911 System and Emergency Trust Fund Account monies to county and municipal 911 centers as required under federal law was approved.

“We will pass a resolution at the Aug. 17th meeting of the Board,” Kelly said. “These funds rightfully belong in the counties and towns that have 911 centers, It’s important we do all we can to have the money come here.

“The state should comply with federal law and restore this money so it can be used to operate, maintain and construct effective, efficient and contemporary 911 systems,” Kelly said.

[TLS]

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2 COMMENTS

  1. This is going to get bad, real bad. You are going to ask the State Democrats to account for money set aside for a specific purpose. In reality the Democrats just put the money into a slush fund for their own pet projects. The Democrats, when asked for an accounting, will just say the fund is out of money so we will have to raise the surcharge on cell phones to make up for the lack of funds for this needed service.
    I say make the account for every dime they collected!!!
    We need to vote these Democrats OUT,OUT,OUT!!!

  2. Too much of our hard earned $ is spent on fancy police cars. I’m sorry – but thats not why we pay taxes – its for the service – yes the call center. Not for these guys to zip around in the coolest new cars.

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