Grand Traverse County to Vote on 911 Surcharge Increase Impacting Emergency Services
Grand Traverse County, Michigan, is set to vote on a proposal to increase the 911 surcharge by 50 cents per device each month, raising it from $2.50 to $3. This proposal, approved by the board of commissioners, will be on the ballot in November. The surcharge funds the entire operating budget for the county's 911 and Central Dispatch services, which include fire, emergency medical services, and law enforcement. The increase is expected to generate an additional $580,000 to $700,000 annually, starting July 1, 2027. The surcharge, initially set at $1.85 in 2015, was increased to $2.50 in 2020 to support technology upgrades and staffing. The current proposal aims to address rising costs and fund major projects, such as the expansion of the LaFranier Road campus and upgrades to law enforcement radio equipment to meet new FBI encryption requirements.