The Stoddard County 911 Services Board Thursday opted to not recommend an amount for a proposed sales tax increase, but leave it up to a Citizen Advisory Board to set the amount. A proposed sales will appear on the April 2016 ballot.
County 911 Services Administrator Carol Moreland told the board that the committee had wanted the board to make a recommendation. The board voted to put a sales tax on the ballot, saying at the time it would be a fraction of one percent to help fund 911 services in the county. County 911 is funded solely from a 15 percent fee on the base cost of land telephone lines in the county. The number of land lines has dwindled since 2004, reducing revenue for 911 services.
Moreland submitted the following numbers as an estimate (based on sales taxes generated by a one percent tax in the county) of how much a sales tax would generate:
* One-half percent -- $1,418,968.47;
* One-quarter percent - $709,484.24;
* One-fifth percent - $567,587.39;
* One-eighth percent - $354,762.12.
Board Member Mike Reinbott said the amount of the tax should be sufficient to fund 911 services for "the next 10 to 15 years."
"It looks like 1/5 of a percent is more than we need," said Reinbott. "But we need to generate enough revenue to put money in reserve each year."
Board Member Andy Holden agreed.
"We don't know what it will cost in the future," stated Holden. "With all the new technology, the cost is going to be more to provide the service."
Board Member John Stepp said the committee was appointed to look at the funding for 911, and it would be better if they decided the amount. He said people in the county would be more likely to support the tax if it was arrived at by citizens who had objectively looked at 911 funding.
Holden suggested that Moreland prepare a 2017 budget, including 911 equipment and software which will have to be updated or replaced by that time. Moreland estimated the cost of replacement at $215,000.
Reinbott said the funding to bring the county to Phase 3 should be included in the budget. Phase 3 would mean that the location of all cell phone calls made to 911 would be provided to the dispatch center. For that to happen, all house addresses in the county would have to be mapped, Moreland said.
"Would you do that?" asked Reinbott.
"No," said Moreland. "A mapping company would do that."
"We need to lay something aside for unforeseen problems," said Kitchen, noting that key 911 equipment could need replacing at any time.
The board asked Moreland to put together a long-range budget to give to the Advisory Board help to determine the amount of sales tax that will be on the ballot.
Moreland presented financial reports to the board showing revenue for 2015 would be lower than budgeted by $8,348. The budget called for $259,869 in revenue, while actual revenues were $251,521. She said the 2015 financial report would show $12,202 more in expenses than in revenues.
Kitchen made a motion to approve the budget amendment, and it passed by a 6-0 vote. Present were Kitchen, Holden, Stepp, Reinbott, Daronda Stovall and Leroy Stockton. Doug Siler, Trevor Pulley, Dave Cooper and Donna Deardorff were not present.
Moreland told the board a new air-conditioning unit had to be installed in the County 911 building. She said the old one needed a new compressor, which was expensive. She said the compressor would not extend the warranty on the old unit. She said the cost was $2,780 for the new unit.
Five new 911 addresses were added in October, making the total for the year 62. There were 95 new 911 addresses in 2015.
There were 1,093 calls made to 911 last month. Of that number, 903 (85 percent) were made from cell phones. Only 190 were made from land lines.
Moreland said the 911 office was still giving away blue ribbons to any individuals or businesses that wanted to display them in support of law enforcement. She said 911 services, in conjunction with Christian Memorials, is selling house numbering markers for $40. They are regularly $50. Both efforts are a result of the 20th anniversary celebration of 911 services in the county. County 911 service began on Oct. 20, 1995.