Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced Wednesday that most upstate New York counties will get a piece of $45 million in grant funding this year as part of the State Interoperable Communications Grant program, administered by the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. The program has doled out $275 million in grants to all New York state counties in the last few years.
For this recent round, Jefferson County will receive $659,672, Lewis County $539,653, Oswego County $886,284 and St. Lawrence County $759,073.
Jefferson County Emergency Services Management Director Joseph D. Plummer could not be reached for comment Wednesday. But he has previously told the Times that when the county must upgrade to a next-generation 911 system, it could cost over $1 million. But that depends on the entire state making the switch. Statewide, the transition could cost billions.
Next-generation 911 involves the creation of, essentially, a new, standalone internet network used solely for public emergency communications. The system would use digital communications such as text messaging, video, photos and GPS tracking.
The 911 dispatch service is paid for through a handful of different surcharges.
For cell phone bills, a surcharge of $1.20 is imposed on a user’s contract. State tax law requires that 50 cents of that $1.20 be put toward the state’s general fund, not including public safety initiatives. The remaining 70 cents is put toward public safety programs and state agencies, but counties see only a fraction of that amount.
A large portion, around $75 million, goes to law enforcement coffers, including state police. The state police leaves 911 emergency dispatch responsibilities to the counties, however.
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