Agenda

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City Council Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:

06/11/2019

BACKGROUND

Bexar Metro 911, by its charter under the Texas Health and Safety Code is required to seek approval of its annual budget from all of the governmental entities for which it provides 911 services. This is done to ensure that all communities under the umbrella of this organization have an opportunity to provide input and direction in the operation and focus of the agency providing 911 services.

Since its inception in 1987, Bexar Metro 911 has utilized the same wired telephone fees without any increases. This has been possible by an ever growing population utilizing wired telephones and by the inception of wireless telephones that are also charged a fee to grow and support the 911 system.

On July 25, 2018 the Bexar Metro 911 Board of Directors recommended the following increases:

Residential Phone Lines:     From $0.22 to $0.50 per phone line
Business Phone Lines:        From $0.51 to $1.00 per phone line
Business Trunk Lines:        From $0.77 to $1.00 per trunk line to a maximum of 100 lines
The service fee charged to wireless telephone users is set by the State of Texas and despite the 911 authorities requesting an increase in the $0.50 fee per wireless phone, the legislation has not increased the fee. It is anticipated that the increase in wired phone line fees will provide the revenue necessary to support 911 operations and technology upgrades for at least the next five years. The current fee structure is adequate to support programmed spending in FY2020.

By approving this resolution, the City of Schertz will be accepting the proposed Bexar Metro 9-1-1 Network Fiscal Year 2020 operational and financial budget plans.

Dudley Wait continues to sit on the Bexar Metro 911 Board of Directors as the Guadalupe County representative.

GOAL

To obtain consensus of and approve the 2019 Bexar Metro 911 operational and financial rates.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT

To deploy and maintain a state-of-the-are 911 emergency communication system that enables citizens in distress to quickly communicate their request for police, fire, or emergency medical assistance.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION

Approve proposed 2019 Bexar metro 911 rates.

FISCAL IMPACT

There is no fiscal impact to the City of Schertz by approval of this budget. There will be an impact to our residents and businesses who still maintain wired telephone lines. A resident with a single wired phone line will see an increase in the 911 service from $2.64 per year to $6.00 per year.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends Council approve Resolution No. 19-R-69

Attachments
Resolution_19_R_69
CCM BM 911 Budget Approval
BM 911 Proposed Budget 2020
BM 911 2018 Annual Report
AUDIT_BM_FINAL 9-30-18