HARRISBURG, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Gov. Josh Shapiro toured the Montgomery County 911 center to promote his proposed increase in funding for emergency dispatchers and first responders.
The governor’s budget proposes a 35-cent increase to the 911 surcharge on wireless devices to generate over $50 million in additional funding for call centers across Pennsylvania.
Shapiro says 911 center costs have risen significantly, but the state’s contribution hasn’t.
“Costs have risen by 23%, and while all of that has happened, the state contribution to this, the state investment in this, has remained flat,” Shapiro said.
“Pennsylvanians need to know when they make that call, and they ask for that police officer, that mental health professional, EMS, whoever it is, they need to know that that call is going to be answered.”
Shapiro says one out of five 911 dispatcher positions across Pennsylvania is vacant. The additional funding would go toward recruitment and retention of dispatchers, including mental health and wellness support.
“Our 911 centers are so understaffed, not just here in Montgomery County, but all across Pennsylvania.”
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Additional funds would also be spent on equipment and technology. Jennifer Cass, Montgomery County emergency communications deputy director, says about 82% of 911 calls come from a cell phone, and they get an estimated location within 300 meters.
“Think about when you use your location services on your smartphone and request an Uber. Our current 911 infrastructure cannot support that precise location information that Uber driver receives,” Cass said.
She said technology upgrades would allow them to use Next Generation 911, which can pinpoint the location of a caller. It would also allow video calls.
“This could give us an advantage to watch a caller performing CPR correctly, instead of assuming they are doing it properly. Just like you would FaceTime or video chat,” Cass said.
Shapiro’s budget proposal would also allocate an additional $36 million for firefighters and EMS to upgrade equipment and technology and boost salaries.
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