Arkansas county governments are seeking to increase the fees on cellphones for 911 emergency services.
According to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the Association of Arkansas Counties is hoping to double the fee for cellphones, which is currently 65 cents per month. This increase is expected to bring in $20 million per year for county governments.
In addition, the AAC wants to have one state board oversee and coordinate the 911 call centers and possibly merge some of the centers. There are currently 127 emergency call centers in Arkansas.
Under the current law, city and county governments determine how to implement a 911 system. Some governments operate their own 911 systems, while others combine with other municipalities to share costs.
Read more about the state’s financial status on Arkansas Money & Politics.
