The Citizen’s Committee for Consolidation has requested Kokomo and Howard County officials to work together to present a proposal to consolidate dispatch centers and MS4 services.
The committee members on Tuesday asked both government entities to present a proposed organizational chart and projected costs of combining services on June 15.
That discussion followed a presentation from Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight in which he outlined two options for the consolidation of the dispatch services.
Goodnight said Kokomo residents pay 86 percent of the dispatch services for the county through the E911 fee placed on telephone lines and county taxes, and they pay 100 percent of city dispatch costs through city taxes.
He contended the city receives none of the E911 funding. Rather, he said, it’s used to pay for county dispatch, which covers Greentown and Russiaville.
Goodnight said one solution would be for the county to take over all dispatch services and costs.
“I would be more than happy to turn over all dispatch services to Howard County,” he said. “I doubt this will take place.”
His second solution was for the county to take over dispatch, use all the E911 funding and divide the remaining costs equally between the city and county.
Goodnight said one person should be in charge of dispatch services. He said he was not in support of an oversight committee.
He said the budget of a combined dispatch center would be approximately $1.4 million, with $700,000 coming from the E911 fund and $350,000 each from the city and county.
Through taxes, Goodnight said, city residents would pay Kokomo’s share of $350,000 and $192,500 of the county’s share.
“There would be a 30 percent reduction in costs,” he said. “The city would save $650,000, and the county would see an increase of $35,000.”
Goodnight said Russiaville and Greentown would not be asked to contribute directly to the operating costs.
When asked where the savings would be obtained in his second solution, Goodnight said personnel costs would be the majority of the savings.
Goodnight said he believed the sheriff should operate the dispatch center.
Committee Vice President Dick Davis, appointed by the commissioners, said information provided indicated 75 percent of the calls to the dispatch centers are received from city residents.
“I know there are more calls in the city,” Goodnight said. “Don’t spread the costs based on services provided. There will be a bigger savings for Kokomo, absolutely. But Kokomo pays the lion’s share.”
He said the city is “short changed” when it comes to the distribution of E911 funds.
Goodnight said there are no challenges in the consolidation that can’t be worked through in the future.
“Give the sheriff a reasonable amount of time to work through the challenges,” he said.
During the public comment period, Nick Capozzoli, communications director for Howard County, pointed out that Goodnight made an inaccurate statement when it came to the E911 funding.
“All equipment the city uses comes from E911 funds,” he said, “those funds are not to be used for personnel.”
Tracy Comfort, a county dispatcher, said she was concerned the committee would make a decision based on inaccurate information.
“We’re all concerned about it,” she said of city and county dispatchers. “You’re talking about our jobs. We’re hearing a lot of politics. I would hate to put a 911 call on hold.
“I’m not against consolidation based on accurate information,” Comfort said. “You’re not hearing accurate information from people in charge.”
Several committee members noted the costs of merging the city and county dispatch centers and potential savings were different from both government entities.