Funding Committee

NGS staff established the NG9-1-1 Sustainable Funding Committee in response to concerns expressed by the Virginia 9-1-1 community over the amount of recurring costs contained in the NG9-1-1 Migration Proposals (MPs) provided by staff to Virginia PSAPs. For many PSAPs, the amount of recurring costs included in their MP represents a two or three fold increase in the amount of recurring costs currently paid to their 9-1-1 service provider.

PSAPs will become responsible for these increased costs 24 months after NG9-1-1 deployment. The NG9-1-1 Sustainable Funding Committee will focus on developing a report that contains recommendations on how to mitigate the financial burden of recurring NG9-1-1 costs on localities. This report will be provided to the 9-1-1 Services Board at a future meeting.

Committee membership consists of 3 PSAP representatives, a Virginia sheriff, a NG9-1-1 industry representative, a VACo representative, and a VML representative. Here are the current committee members:

• Christian Collier (Small PSAP)
• J.R. Powell (Medium PSAP)
• Eddie Reyes (Large PSAP)
• Sheriff Brian Hieatt
• Jolena Young (Board member)
• Joe Lerch (VACo)
• Terry Hall (VML)

The committee will report to Dorothy Spears-Dean.

Local Government Survey

The NG9-1-1 Sustainable Funding Committee has created a survey and is seeking input from Virginia primary PSAP managers and local government administrators on the following questions:

• Is the projected growth rate of wireless 9-1-1 revenue sufficient to keep pace with estimated NG9-1-1 recurring costs? If not, what are possible methods for increasing revenue?
• Do Virginia PSAPs believe the current distribution percentages and methodology for the Wireless E-911 Fund are optimal to support PSAP operations and discretionary funding (e.g. PSAP Grant Program)?
• How can PSAPs be incentivized to pursue shared and hosted services projects?
• Is there a desire to consolidate (physical or technological) among Virginia PSAPs, but personnel are unsure of how, or have insufficient resources, to proceed?

The Virginia Municipal League(VML) is coordinating the distribution of the survey and the collection of data. A link to the survey has already been sent to local government administrators for completion. A copy of this survey is available for review below in order for PSAP managers to assist their local executives. The Funding Committee plans to use local government responses, along with other analysis, to make a recommendation to the 9-1-1 Services Board on how to mitigate the financial burden of recurring NG9-1-1 costs on localities.