If approved, this proposal will authorize a new tax of .98 mills to be levied by Calhoun County to fund the Consolidated Dispatch Authority from 2023 through 2032, to be used exclusively for the funding of 9-1-1 emergency telephone call answering and dispatch services within Calhoun County, including facilities, equipment and maintenance, and operating costs.
This includes funding for a 911 radio communication system upgrade for police, fire, and EMS.
This includes funding for a 911 radio communication system upgrade for police, fire, and EMS.
Current ChallengesInsufficient Radio Coverage for Police, Fire, and EMS
Currently multiple radio systems are used for 911 dispatch and emergency communications. First responders currently have challenges using their radios in certain areas of the county, especially when indoors. VHF Radio Approaching end of life The backbone of this system, used for fire department notifications and communications, is outdated. Spare parts have been collected from neighboring counties who have decommissioned their VHF systems. There are many points of failure that can result in system outages. Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) nearing end of life The primary software used to manage 911 responses is reaching end of life. This will require a significant investment. This system is no longer considered a premier product, as it once was. |
How much would this cost homeowners? Taxable Value* $50,000 Est. Annual Cost $49 Taxable Value* $75,000 Est. Annual Cost $74 Taxable Value* $100,000 Est. Annual Cost $98 *The taxable value is the value on which property taxes are calculated. It can be found on the property tax statement or by contacting your city/township/village/county assessor's office or viewing their web site. This number is typically 50% or less of the assessed market value. |
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"The VHF radio system utilized by all fire departments in Calhoun County has become undependable for fire department paging and radio communication. The reason for the VHF dependability is directly related the FCC narrowbanding that took place in 2013. Most of the VHF system is still analog and subject to static, garbled, and miscommunication of transmissions. Beyond this there’s the fact that counties surrounding Calhoun County have switched to 7/800MHz radios and the Michigan Public Safety Communication System (MPSCS)."
-Chief Steven Wart, Athens Township Fire Department |
This proposal would result in a significant investment in public safety by:
- Building additional radio towers to improve coverage for public safety, while realizing cost savings by adding onto the existing state MPSCS system.
- Moving all agencies to a single radio system, so everyone can communicate with each other in an emergency, including across county lines.
- Purchasing radios for police, fire, and EMS agencies dispatched by Calhoun 911; relieving those agencies from maintenance costs.
- Upgrading the computer aided dispatch system, which is a critical piece of daily operations.
- Providing dedicated funding for public safety communications and 911 and reducing city, village, township, and county contributions to 911 dispatch operations by nearly 71%.
Why join the Michigan Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS)?
In Michigan, 72 of the state's 83 counties rely on the MPSCS for the majority of local public safety communications (click for map). This number does include Calhoun County as our law enforcement agencies utilize the system currently. Joining the MPSCS is a more cost effective option than building a stand-alone system, as the current towers in our county and surrounding counties can be utilized on the network (instead of building all new towers). The MPSCS is used by, or compatible with systems used by surrounding counties, which will allow for seamless communication in a emergency where resources cross county lines.
In order to bring all public safety agencies onto the MPSCS network in Calhoun County, additional tower coverage is needed. The MPSCS network was built in the mid-1990s to provide a baseline service for in-car Michigan State Police radios. This investment would add-on to that network in order to provide reliable portable radio use for first responders, including when they are inside of buildings.
Counties across Michigan have also faced the same challenges that we are here today. Locally, Eaton, Jackson, and Kalamazoo Counties have made an investment in the MPSCS network, while Hillsdale is currently working towards a similar investment.
In order to bring all public safety agencies onto the MPSCS network in Calhoun County, additional tower coverage is needed. The MPSCS network was built in the mid-1990s to provide a baseline service for in-car Michigan State Police radios. This investment would add-on to that network in order to provide reliable portable radio use for first responders, including when they are inside of buildings.
Counties across Michigan have also faced the same challenges that we are here today. Locally, Eaton, Jackson, and Kalamazoo Counties have made an investment in the MPSCS network, while Hillsdale is currently working towards a similar investment.
Ballot Language
Shall a .98 mill (.98 of a mill, or 98 cents per $1,000 of taxable value) increase on the limitation on the amount of taxes on the general ad valorem taxes (real and tangible personal property) within Calhoun County, State of Michigan, imposed under Article IX, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution be authorized for a period of ten (10) years, from 2023 through 2032, both inclusive, to be used exclusively for the funding of 9-1-1 emergency telephone call answering and dispatch services within Calhoun County, including facilities, equipment and maintenance, and operating costs? This is a new additional millage. If approved and levied, the requested millage would provide estimated revenues of approximately Three Million Nine Hundred and Seventy-Two Thousand Four Hundred and Eighty-Seven and 00/100 Dollars ($3,972,487) when first levied in 2023.
Funding Proposal
This funding proposal includes stable funding for 911 operations, but also includes funding for the capital projects listed above.
The below table demonstrating the proposed funding model has several columns, defined as:
The below table demonstrating the proposed funding model has several columns, defined as:
- Surcharge- This is projected revenue from a county-level surcharge (60¢/line per month).
- User Fee- This projection is the amount needed to make up a shortfall between expenses and revenue. A user fee would need to be defined as either the continuation of the CFS formula, or some other equipment lease agreement, as an example.
- Other- This includes other funding sources, such as state 911 surcharge distribution, lease revenue, or other service agreement revenue.
- Property Tax- This would include revenue from a property tax dedicated to 911, if approved by the voters.
How would these fund be utilized?
-Operations (staffing and general materials needed to answer 911 calls and dispatch officers):
The current operational budget for dispatch is $3,770,094. The current and prior budgets and audits are available here: https://www.calhouncounty911.org/budgets--audits.html
-Capital Improvements:
The major projects include the radio project (as described above) at an estimated cost of $15-$16M, along with the replacement of the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. These projects would be financed over 10 years.
-Operations (staffing and general materials needed to answer 911 calls and dispatch officers):
The current operational budget for dispatch is $3,770,094. The current and prior budgets and audits are available here: https://www.calhouncounty911.org/budgets--audits.html
-Capital Improvements:
The major projects include the radio project (as described above) at an estimated cost of $15-$16M, along with the replacement of the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. These projects would be financed over 10 years.
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"From the lessons learned after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina- a joint, effective and reliable communication system is key in an emergency response. Today we have a higher demand on this system, which has created the same reliability and access challenges we had in the late 1990's into the early 2000's."
-Chief Jim Blocker, Battle Creek Police Department |
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Questions? Contact Michael Armitage, Executive Director, marmitage@calhouncountymi.gov
