From the Muncie Star Press:
Thanks to a law enacted by the Indiana Legislature -- Senate Enrolled Act 345 -- telephone bill fees charged to fund 911 centers in Indiana counties will now be collected and distributed by the state.
In briefings by representatives of the Association of Indiana Counties, local officials heard details, including how local 911 surcharges will go away effective July 1 and be replaced by a statewide rate of 90 cents on monthly landline and cellphone bills.
In Delaware County, the monthly 911 surcharge on telephone bills has been a little less than a dollar. But the fee varied greatly around the state, ranging from 30-plus cents to nearly $3 per month.
In addition to the 90 cent surcharge for landlines and cellphones, prepaid phones will see a fee of 50 cents.
Commissioner Larry Bledsoe said while changes will come this year, the greater uncertainty will roll around in 2015, when a three-year introductory period that's part of the new legislation will end.
"I think it could be very interesting in 2015 if they eliminate the collection of wireless and prepaid," Bledsoe said. "In the meeting, they told us that's a possibility. Phone companies want it off their phone bills. There's going to be a lot of discussion as to who should be paying, what's eligible expenses (to be covered by revenue from the surcharge) and what's not."
Bledsoe said the $2 million annual budget for 911 includes about $700,000 from telephone user fees. The city and county split the balance.
Officials said that, for the time being, the county could expect to see annual disbursements equal to the average amount collected by the county over the last three years, plus a 3 percent increase.
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http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012204140309
