Title
A RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE 911 CHARGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPROVING AN INCREASE IN THE ADDITIONAL CHARGE for switched local exchange access service, commercial mobile radio service, and other 911 accessible service within the County.
Background
Public Safety Article Section 1-311 of the Annotated Code of Maryland was amended by Chapters 301 and 302 of the 2019 legislative session to permit a County to increase its 911 fee from the current level of $0.75 cents per line to recover the actual County cost of providing that service; provided however, that the fee increase may not exceed $1.50 per line.
The County completed the FY 2020 audit of 911 fee revenue and the cost of providing service, and found that County expenses exceeded 911 fee revenue by $8.4 million. To recover the cost of service would require that the fee be raised by $0.65 cents per line, to a revised total of $1.40 per line. To do so, State law requires the County to hold a public hearing on the proposed fee increase, and upon adoption of a Resolution to notify the Public Service Commission. The Public Service Commission requires 60 days to notify telephone service providers before the fee goes into effect.
Chapter 349 of the 2022 legislative session removes the $1.50 cap on the 911 fee level, effective October 1, 2022. This law change will allow the County to recover future 911 costs if they exceed the rate equivalent of $1.50 per line.