Wednesday, April 14, 1999
Phone-bill surcharge step closer
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
INDEPENDENCE — Cincinnati Bell customers in Kenton County could soon see a $1.50 surcharge on their monthly phone bills to help pay for enhanced emergency dispatch services.
By a 3 to 1 vote Tuesday, Kenton Fiscal Court gave its initial approval to the measure.
The proposed tax would generate more than $900,000 a year to help pay for the operation, maintenance and purchase of new emergency communications equipment. The Kenton County dispatch center handles calls for 13 police departments, 13 fire departments and 13 life squads.
Through the tax, the county would be assured of a constant revenue source for emergency communications, and would not risk having the money diverted elsewhere, Kenton County Treasurer Ivan Frye said.
Kenton County Police Chief Mike Browning said he is asking for $1.3 million in the upcoming budget to pay for new equipment, because the present emergency communications system, installed in 1976, is outdated.
Chief Browning said firefighters in different parts of the county often have problems hearing one another over the present radio system.
“(Under the new system), a firefighter on a portable radio in Ryland Heights or Visalia would be able to talk to a firefighter in Ludlow,” Chief Browning said.
He added the new radio system also would be less susceptible to failure during storms, and would allow firefighters to summon help through the county dispatch center, simply by pushing a panic button on their radios.
Kenton County Commissioner Barb Black, who voted against the tax, said that she supports improving Kenton County's emergency communications system. However, she said she opposes paying for the improvements through an added phone tax, if other funds are available.
She also expressed concerns that the tax would be unfair to home and business owners with multiple phone lines.
Kenton Judge-executive Dick Murgatroyd and Commissioners Dan Humpert and Adam Koenig said they gave their initial approval, because it involves public safety.
“Public safety is the first role of government, as I see it,” Mr. Koenig said.
A final vote on the proposed tax will be taken in early May, when county officials have a better idea of budget projections for the upcoming fiscal year.
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