Rowan says cost of dispatch services is going up
By Terry Murry on Friday, February 12th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Area law enforcement agencies hoped that what they pay for 911 emergency dispatch services might go down due to another uptick in the state 911 tax. Umatilla County Sheriff Terry Rowan says he has to dash that hope. While the cost did go down in the current fiscal year, it’s going back up in the one that starts in July.
“I’ve got a spreadsheet that illustrates precisely what I’m talking about,” he said. “I know that it’s going to be a heavy lift to get this in front of all our partner agencies.”
He said when those agencies are working on the coming budget, they don’t really remember what happened the year before.
“When they see their commitment or their financial impact, they’re looking at it through that one-year budget lens,” he said.
Last year, subscribers paid about six to eight percent less. This year Rowan says the increase will be 12 to 13 percent. The reasons are the decision to hire two more dispatchers and the general increase in the cost of doing business. He says he’s working to schedule a meeting with the subscribing agencies by the end of this month.
