Hillsdale county votes to keep 911 service running
Casey Cheney
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: News
Hillsdale County's 911 service received the surcharge increase it needs to continue running during Tuesday's special election.
In the city of Hillsdale, the 911 ETS ballot passed 466 to 179. Hillsdale Community Schools also renewed its millage by a 428 to 218 vote.
Countywide, 62 percent (2,282 votes) of voters approved the 911 ETS proposal to 38 percent (1,408).
Doug Sanford, director of the 911 ETS Board, said approximately 11 percent of voters in the county voted.
The 911 surcharge, which amounts to $1.20 on monthly phone bills, was raised to $2.25. The increase goes into effect July 1, 2009.
"We will not see the increase until the first of November," he said, when they receive their cut from the phone companies.
With the extra money ETS hopes to pay off a debt of more than $110,000 to the county within two years. In their agreement with the Board of Commissioners, Sanford said ETS has permission to replace broken equipment that can't be reasonably repaired.
State law limits surcharges to $3 per month, a topic of concern among Hillsdale residents. However, Sanford said this is a decrease, as the county before was able to go as high as $4.
He added that the surcharge price could not be raised above $2.25 until July 1, 2010 at the earliest; one year after the new charge goes into effect.
In an attempt to avoid an increase, Sanford said they will try to get as much out of their equipment, though much of it is up to 13 years old.
"We're going to run things with Band-Aids and banding wire," he joked.
Hillsdale Community Schools have its own old equipment to deal with.
The ballot to renew the millage for the upkeep of Hillsdale Community Schools passed, a procedure that takes place once every five years, Hillsdale Community Schools Superintendent Richard Ames said.
No increase or decrease to the millage was made.
Ames said the money the district receives from the millage must be channeled toward general maintenance of permanent structures.
Pipe work at Gier Elementary School is an upcoming project being funded by the recently renewed millage.
In the city of Hillsdale, the 911 ETS ballot passed 466 to 179. Hillsdale Community Schools also renewed its millage by a 428 to 218 vote.
Countywide, 62 percent (2,282 votes) of voters approved the 911 ETS proposal to 38 percent (1,408).
Doug Sanford, director of the 911 ETS Board, said approximately 11 percent of voters in the county voted.
The 911 surcharge, which amounts to $1.20 on monthly phone bills, was raised to $2.25. The increase goes into effect July 1, 2009.
"We will not see the increase until the first of November," he said, when they receive their cut from the phone companies.
With the extra money ETS hopes to pay off a debt of more than $110,000 to the county within two years. In their agreement with the Board of Commissioners, Sanford said ETS has permission to replace broken equipment that can't be reasonably repaired.
State law limits surcharges to $3 per month, a topic of concern among Hillsdale residents. However, Sanford said this is a decrease, as the county before was able to go as high as $4.
He added that the surcharge price could not be raised above $2.25 until July 1, 2010 at the earliest; one year after the new charge goes into effect.
In an attempt to avoid an increase, Sanford said they will try to get as much out of their equipment, though much of it is up to 13 years old.
"We're going to run things with Band-Aids and banding wire," he joked.
Hillsdale Community Schools have its own old equipment to deal with.
The ballot to renew the millage for the upkeep of Hillsdale Community Schools passed, a procedure that takes place once every five years, Hillsdale Community Schools Superintendent Richard Ames said.
No increase or decrease to the millage was made.
Ames said the money the district receives from the millage must be channeled toward general maintenance of permanent structures.
Pipe work at Gier Elementary School is an upcoming project being funded by the recently renewed millage.
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