The Department of Public Safety's Scott Campbell appeared before the board on Tuesday as part of the county's agency budget hearings. Representatives from Carroll Community College, the State's Attorney's Office and the Sheriff's Office also met with the commissioners.
Beginning this summer, the county will have to pay between $77,235 and $92,991 for maintenance of its newly installed digital radio system. That fee is an increase over the $35,164 per month the county will pay in maintenance through the remainder of the spring, a figure that Campbell said was an anomaly resulting from factors like a warranty on the system.
The money to cover the monthly increase is included in the county's recommended budget, but some commissioners balked at the price tag.
Commissioner Richard Rothschild, R-District 4, said he felt blindsided by the increase.
"Software's going to make me gray," said Commissioner Richard Weaver, R-District 2.
Budget Director Ted Zaleski told the commissioners that the county knew in 2013 when it approved the Motorola system that there would be a jump in cost at some point.
"The thing is we just didn't know the dollar amount," he said.
Software agreements, which often come with costly maintenance contracts, have become an ever-increasing expense for the county, he said.
He assured the commissioners that staff is making sure that the county is getting the best deals possible on the contracts.
"You can like it or not like it, but this wasn't just a simple: 'Oh, that's what they say. OK, sign the contract,' " he said. "This has been questioned extensively."
Campbell also asked the commissioners to consider the addition of two more emergency communications staff positions, something he said could help the county cut overtime costs.
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