Despite objections from police, fire and municipal officials outside Madison, the Dane County 911 board approved a cost-sharing plan for the county's new $30 million radio system Wednesday.
The plan shares the estimated $1.44 million annual maintenance cost of the interoperable radio system between the state, county and local municipalities. Opponents of the plan said the county should foot the entire bill.
"That's the most fair and equitable option, and it hasn't been offered (for consideration)," town of Madison Fire Chief David Bloom said.
The board voted 8-3 with one abstention to support the plan. The debate focused on a political question about whether the county tax levy should bear the maintenance cost or whether it should be spread among municipalities. Smaller fire districts and villages are worried they won't be able to afford the added cost.
To address that concern, the proposal has the county subsidize the cost for 21 municipalities. An original version of the plan had the subsidized group paying nothing, but the approved plan has them paying a prorated portion of the cost and the county subsidizing the rest - about $30,000, or 6 cents per citizen.
"Despite philosophical differences on how to tax or who to tax, we need to support this system," said 911 director John Dejung, who plans to sign a contract for the system next month, but is waiting for buy-in from all the system users.
Posted in Local, Govt_and_politics on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 7:10 pm Updated: 7:20 pm. 911, John Dejung
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