Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy brought major stakeholders together and asked if we could use the federal mandate as an opportunity to create a state-of-the-art system that improves safety for citizens and first responders — and makes the system more efficient. Leaders of the five largest police and fire agencies spent more than a year working out an agreement in which each agency brings resources to the table while also having its technological needs met. That’s a key point: every agency needs something, whether it’s new dispatch facilities, new radios or software upgrades for radios.
This proposal:
• Consolidates, unifies and updates 9-1-1 dispatch centers.
• Establishes reliable radio coverage countywide.
• Dedicates a revenue stream to major equipment needs.
• Provides better protection for first responders and every resident and business in Pierce County.
The following chart shows all of the agencies that benefit from South Sound 911 because they currently receive services from LESA and/or Tacoma Fire Comm or West Pierce Fire Comm.
FUNDING: Communications equipment is extraordinarily expensive. There isn’t any one source of funding that will cover these costs, which far exceed $100 million. This proposal adds one new revenue source – a sales tax increase of 1/10 of 1% (a penny on a $10 purchase) – to existing revenue sources. The money will be bonded to provide enough to cover equipment and operational needs across the county. Here are two important points about the sales tax:
1. Under RCW 82.14.420, this money can only be used for emergency communications.
2. The County Council included a “sunset clause” so that the tax expires after the construction bonds are paid off. This is not a permanent tax. Here is a link to the Council resolution.
The next two charts show the sources of money coming into the South Sound 911 agency and the expenditures going out. Please click on the charts to make them larger.
GOVERNANCE: Elected officials and leaders of law enforcement and fire agencies agree to share responsibility and oversight in a transparent manner that ensures decisions are made with public safety as the top priority. Elected officials, who are accountable to voters, would approve the budget and hire the director. Law enforcement and fire officials, who know what’s needed in the field, would manage operations. Click on the chart below for a look at the organizational chart.
BENEFITS OF SOUTH SOUND 911:
• Assures state-of-the-art emergency communications throughout Pierce County.
• Accommodates growth in call volume and meet all state and federal requirements.
• Provides an Emergency Operations Center for the City of Tacoma and other member municipalities that serves as a redundant backup of the County EOC.
• Improves response times.
• Creates a countywide data communication system capable of supporting emerging technology.
• Establishes a dedicated funding stream for communications infrastructure.
• Dramatically improves public safety.
Each agency is facing upgrade costs in the millions of dollars. Even if we do not approve this, we still face enormous capital expenses that make it harder to keep boots on the ground. Look at this picture of the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and consider this question: Will we be prepared for the next big earthquake, flood, lahar, wind storm or major crime? We propose working together to create a more reliable communication system for our citizens and the first responders who come to their aid.
