{"id":2317399,"date":"2024-08-01T09:57:58","date_gmt":"2024-08-01T13:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/911-phone-surcharge-on-track-to-meet-revenue-expectations-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-01T10:01:45","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T14:01:45","slug":"911-phone-surcharge-on-track-to-meet-revenue-expectations-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/911-phone-surcharge-on-track-to-meet-revenue-expectations-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"911 phone surcharge on track to meet revenue expectations &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2F911-phone-surcharge-on-track-to-meet-revenue-expectations-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2317399&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses \u2063Pennsylvania&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/texas-dem-voted-to-cut-law-enforcement-jobs-amid-concerns-of-cartel-violence\/\" title=\"Texas Dem Voted To Cut Law Enforcement Jobs Amid Concerns of Cartel Violence\">recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/schumer-spokesman-celebrates-1-9-trillion-covid-relief-plan-erases-ny-budget-deficit\/\" title=\"Schumer Spokesman Celebrates: .9 Trillion COVID Relief Plan Erases NY Budget Deficit\">tax increase<\/a><\/a>\u2063 on cell phones, aimed at funding the state&#8217;s 911 system. The monthly surcharge \u2062rose from\u2062 $1.65\u200c to $1.95 in \u20632023, \u2063and early \u200dreports indicate that the revenue generated has \u2064exceeded expectations, bringing in over $97 \u2064million in the second quarter of 2024\u2014$5\u2063 million \u2063more than anticipated. This \u200dfunding\u200b is crucial for supporting 61 911 call centers across the state. PEMA Director Randy Padfield emphasized the\u200d importance of this revenue in ensuring\u2063 the sustainability and technological advancement of emergency services, highlighting the state&#8217;s commitment to enhancing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/michigan-state-shooter-had-prior-felony-gun-charge-dismissed-by-progressive-prosecutor\/\" title=\"Michigan State Shooter Had Prior Felony Gun Charge Dismissed By Progressive Prosecutor\">public safety network<\/a> in Pennsylvania.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">911 phone surcharge on track to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/was-twitter-cooking-their-books\/\" title=\"Was Twitter Cooking Their Books?\">meet revenue expectations<\/a><\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1720285\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &mdash; The tax increase on cell phones to support Pennsylvania&rsquo;s 911 system is on track to hit its expected revenues.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The tax, passed in 2023 to raise the monthly surcharge from $1.65 to $1.95, brought in more than $97 million in the second quarter of 2024, a $5 million haul above initial estimates. The money supports 61 911 call centers across the commonwealth.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The dedicated staff who answer the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-california-regulation-has-unintended-consequence-that-could-fuel-major-wildfires\/\" title=\"California&#039;s new regulation may cause major wildfires.\">call 24 hours<\/a> a day are the backbone of the public safety network in Pennsylvania,&rdquo; PEMA Director Randy Padfield said in a&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.media.pa.gov\/pages\/pema-details.aspx?newsid=272\">press release<\/a><\/strong>. &ldquo;This revenue increase affirms the Shapiro Administration commitment to supporting their long-term, sustainable growth as we continue to build out cutting-edge Next Generation 911 technology.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>By March 2025, officials expect the surcharge to bring in $370 million for call center operations. Without the surcharge, the funding burden would fall on&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/pennsylvania\/article_e3b991a4-9aa1-11ee-b2c7-5391f668aea1.html\">county property taxes<\/a><\/strong>. And vacancy rates at some centers have&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/pennsylvania\/article_4f0292c8-03ce-11ee-be89-17361d2e8878.html\">exceeded 20%<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The 911 system has been going through an upgrade for next generation 911, which allows text-to-911 communications along with better caller location data.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Both the callers who need assistance and the first responders who will provide the help they need are benefiting from this funding,&rdquo; PEMA Deputy Director for 911 Greg Kline said. &ldquo;It is our mission to make sure they have the best information, tools, and resources they need to do their jobs to keep residents and visitors safe across Pennsylvania.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>PEMA noted that many counties still face staffing shortages and&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pema.pa.gov\/911-Program\/Careers\/Pages\/default.aspx\">are hiring<\/a><\/strong>; the state has 2,500 telecommunicators who answer more than 15 million calls annually.<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1720285\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1720285\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The increase in the cell phone tax aimed at funding Pennsylvania&#8217;s 911 system is projected to meet its revenue goals. Implemented in 2023, the surcharge was raised from $1.65 to $1.95 per month and generated over $97 million during the second quarter of 2024, exceeding initial projections by $5 million. This funding supports 61 call centers throughout the state. PEMA Director Randy Padfield emphasized that the dedicated personnel who respond to calls around the clock are essential to Pennsylvania&#8217;s public safety infrastructure. He noted that this revenue boost reflects the Shapiro Administration&#8217;s commitment to ensuring sustainable growth while advancing Next Generation 911 technology. By March 2025, officials anticipate that this surcharge will generate $370 million for call center operations; without it, counties would have to rely on property taxes for funding. Some centers are experiencing vacancy rates above 20%. The upgrade to Next Generation 911 will enable text-to-911 services and improve caller location accuracy, benefiting both those seeking help and first responders. PEMA Deputy Director for 911 Greg Kline stated that their mission is to provide responders with optimal information and resources for maintaining safety across Pennsylvania, although many counties still face staffing shortages and are actively hiring; currently, there are about 2,500 telecommunicators handling over 15 million calls each year<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2317400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/police-lights-photo-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[16735,36862,35975,36863,32076],"class_list":["post-2317399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-16735","tag-phone-surcharge","tag-public-safety","tag-revenue-expectations","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/police-lights-photo-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2317399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2317399"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2317399\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2317400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2317399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2317399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2317399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}