911 centers will get more money soon. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency announced this news. Officials hope the funds fix many problems.
Governor Shapiro’s plan will help fund 911 centers. The plan will give $370 million by March 2025. Governor Shapiro signed Act 34 in 2023. The act raised the phone fee for 911 services. The fee went from $1.65 to $1.95 on March 1st.
Jeff Boyle works for Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). He said the 911 fee helps pay for the system. The fee increase will raise $370 million each year. This money will cover 70% of the county’s 911 costs.
The 911 fee pays for workers and technology. It helps keep 911 running every day. The rest of the costs come from county taxes. The fee increase will ease some burden on county funds.
In the second quarter, they expected $92.5 million. They got $97.1 million instead. This was a big success.
Pennsylvania 911 Centers Poised for Upgrades with New Digital Capabilities
911 systems are changing from analog to digital. New technology includes text, video, and social media. The current system does not support these. The new fee will help update the system.
Luzerne County 911 center is in Hanover Township. They say, “Heroes behind the headsets.” Staffing levels are improving there.
The center has not received the funds yet. But they expect to get more money this quarter. William Ives is the Deputy Director. He said the funds will go towards salaries. Prices are rising for electricity and water. The new funds will help cover these costs.
The funds will help maintain services. They might improve some services too. Overall, the funds will keep the center running.
The Luzerne County 911 center plans to hire new staff. They will start a new class in September for applicants.
To read our article about “AT&T will now route 911 calls based on a device’s GPS location” click here.
