Title
A RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE 911 CHARGE for the purpose of approving a one cent 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 Chapter 349 of the 2022 legislative session to permit a County to increase its 911 fee to recover the actual County cost of providing that service.
The County completed the FY 2021 audit of 911 fee revenue and the cost of providing service, and found that County expenses exceeded 911 fee revenue by $9.0 million, however this does not reflect the additional revenue effective July 1, 2023 when the fee level was increased to $1.40 per line. To recover the cost of service would require that the fee be raised by $0.01 cent per line, to a revised total of $1.41 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.