The bill to change the distribution of 911 taxes for emergency communications systems (HB 2258) was amended prior to passing out of the committee to apply only to Spokane County and funding for 911 calls transferred for dispatch to a city in that regional system. The amendment addressed concerns about unintended impacts on interoperability and funding for 911 dispatch in counties that do not base funding for their regional systems on the proportion of calls. The bill is in the Rules Committee waiting for further action to be eligible for a vote in the House.

Funding for cities in 911 regional emergency communications systems

January 12, 2024

Counties receiving revenues for 911 taxes would be required to share the revenues with cities to which calls are transferred for dispatch. HB 2258, sponsored by Rep. Timm Ormsby (D–Spokane), would require a county that operates a regional 911 emergency communications system to transfer a portion of the 911 tax revenues, based on the proportion of the emergency calls transferred to city 911 systems for dispatch for the previous quarter.

While many counties may already share 911 taxes with other local government dispatch systems, this bill would require a share of funding based on the proportional number of calls for each municipal system.

Dates to remember

HB 2258 is scheduled for public hearing in the House Local Government Committee on Friday, January 19 at 10:30 am.