Emergency-911 Directors across the Upper Cumberland say a proposed surcharge rate increase from $1.50 to $1.86 could help local 911 centers if passed by state legislators.
911 surcharges are transaction fees added to monthly phone bills to help fund 911. Tennessee Emergency Communications Board Vice Chair and Cumberland County E‑911 Director Eric Ritzman said most counties rely heavily on the surcharge for funding. He said an increase could significantly benefit rural 911 centers throughout the Upper Cumberland.
“Most of their money comes from that 911 surcharge, and the city or the county is not able to contribute as much,” Ritzman said. “So you know, this 911 surcharge increase goes a long way in keeping these 911 districts operational.”
Overton and Pickett County E‑911 Director Chris Masiongale said the increase would be a major step forward for smaller Tennessee districts that are struggling with inflation and rising operational costs. Masiongale said those cost pressures are something his district experiences firsthand.
“For example, my switch that I have to purchase is $300,000,” Masiongale said. “The same switch that Nashville Metro has to purchase. And so just because you are smaller does not mean the prices are any cheaper.”
The last time Tennessee increased the surcharge rate was in 2021, when it rose from $1.16 to $1.50. Jackson County E‑911 Director Michael Smith said another increase has been long overdue.
“It would help with all kinds of software and hardware updates, but mainly it would help with the cost of our number one commodity, and that would be dispatchers,” Smith said. “Jackson County right now, you know, the highest paid dispatcher I have only makes $14.75 an hour.”
Masiongale said Overton and Pickett counties face similar challenges when it comes to dispatcher pay, with starting wages around $12 an hour. He said he is hopeful a surcharge increase would help counties better retain employees.
“It really needs to be on up there, you know, a few more dollars, hopefully, you know, $14, $15, $16 an hour, where we can at least compete with the fast food services here in the county,” Masiongale said.
Masiongale said raising the surcharge rate would place the cost on people who use emergency communications services rather than increasing property taxes for all residents.
Ritzman said the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board submitted the proposal to state lawmakers after extensive research and public input. He said he believes legislators will recognize the need for the increase.
“I think we’ve got a very good chance of this getting through,” Ritzman said. “I think, as always, people need to contact their legislators and let them know that public safety is important to them and that they support this.”