Support needed for 9-1-1 levy

On November 3, Putnam County residents will be voting on our 9-1-1/Communications levy,

Putnam County 9-1-1 has been supported by this levy since 1995. It is used to pay the dispatchers and 9-1-1 Coordinator salaries, training, phone utilities, computer maintenance and replacement as needed, software maintenance and upgrades in trying to keep current with cell phone and computer base telephone services and communications equipment.

The levy money generated for 9-1-1 is not part of the county general fund so it is used only for the operations of the 9-1-1 center. This fund is controlled by direction of the 9-1-1 Board. This board consists of representatives from the County Fire and Police Chiefs Association, County Sheriff, Commissioner, Prosecutor, Common Pleas Court Judge, EMS, EMA, and Ohio State Patrol.

After the 9-1-1 Dispatcher receives a 9-1-1 call they need to have the capability to pass on the information to police, fire and EMS units so they can respond to the emergency. We use radios to communicate with these units and the maintenance of the equipment is very important.

If the equipment is not in proper working order then we cannot talk with the emergency responds to give them important information about the emergency. This levy would help in paying for the maintenance of these radios for all local and county safety service agencies.

The levy is Issue 4 on the ballot and will be for a replacement of the current 1 mill 9-1-1 levy and an increase of .25 mills which is to help with the radio communications for a total of 1.25 mills. This will be for a 5-year period commencing 2010 and will not be first due until the calendar year 2011.

As an example of how much this levy would cost we ask the Putnam County Auditors office to provide us with information using the value of a $100,000 home for 1.25 mill levy. The approximate cost for this home’s value would be approximately $38.28 per year. This breaks down to about 10 cents per day for your families security and peace of mind knowing that there is a simple three-digit number of 911 that will connect you to a person trained to get you the help you need.

Lt. Brad Brubaker

9-1-1 coordinator