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CenCom county funding formula agreement closer Kitsap County 911 system offers services to 13 police and fire agencies By Leslie Kelly kellygreenacres@comcast.net
A new funding formula for Kitsap County Central Communications (CenCom) is one step closer to becoming a reality after years of discussion. The CenCom’s governing board approved a new funding plan last week and the plan is now on its way to the agencies that partici-
pate in CenCom for consideration. Known as Kitsap County’s 911 system, CenCom offers 911 services to 13 law enforcement agencies and fire departments in the county including Kitsap County Sheriff ’s office, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island police and fire departments. In past years, the agencies have paid for 911 services using a formula that took into account the assessed property value and area population of each individual participating agency. But in 2010, the CenCom governing board changed the formula and based it on the number of calls each agency had. Agencies have also paid a $50,000 mini-
Friday, December 28, 2012
mum to participate in CenCom. In order for the new formula to go forUnder the revised formula, some agen- ward, governing bodies of each member cies like Kitsap County Sheriff ’s Office and agency of CenCom will have to approve the Bainbridge Island Police Department the funding formula, Kirton said. He said saw reductions in their bills from CenCom. the Bremerton City Council has already Others, such as Port Gamble, had to pay approved the agreement and he anticipates more. the others will within the next month. Such changes led to difficult negotiations Al Townsend, Police Chief for the Port on how to fund the 911 agency that has an Orchard Police Department, said he was $8 million annual budget. extremely pleased with the Member agencies such as formula adopted by the polthe Port Gamble S’Klallam “We discussed many icy board. Tribe disagreed with what options and we “We worked for well over they termed an expensive a year to examine options feel we reached an minimum at $50,000. and possibilities with the In October 2011, the agreement that we intent to find a system that Tribe sent a letter to the can all live by.” was fair to every agency governing board and Kitsap that uses CenCom for their County Commissioners Richard Kirton dispatching services,” said asking for a review of the Townsend. “We believe the funding changes. formula that was approved Richard Kirton, director for CenCom, by the CenCom Policy Board does just said that the board discussed the $50,000 that. minimum many times and that in a final “When the dust settled on the creation of vote, the board opted to take it out. this formula some agency costs went up and “The overwhelming feeling for most of some went down. But the old days where the board was that the parties to the interlo- there was supplementing and supplanting cal have been contributing since (CenCom) by some agencies no longer exists. The new began and that the minimum wasn’t neces- formula creates a fair system where each sary any longer,” he said. agency pays for the portion of service that The new plan includes only the $5,000 they use.” annual fee for each participating agency and Townsend said no agency can get the level a funding plan that is based on the amount of service that CenCom provides for the of time a police call takes as compared to a reasonable costs each pays by going out on fire call, and averages each agency’s calls for their own. service load from the previous three years “Port Orchard, for example, would be payto determine exact annual fees. ing five to 10 times the amount we do if we It also calls for other agencies that want had to operate our own dispatch center,” he to join CenCom to contract with CenCom said. “CenCom is made up of very professionby negotiating individual contracts. They al and well trained individuals who provide a could be subject to the $50,000 minimum critical public safety service to all residents of payment. Kitsap County.” This is the first CenCom board-approved While Jeromy Sullivan, Port Gamble funding contract in years. In 1993 revisions S’Klallam Tribal Chairman was not available to the original 1976 funding contract were Wednesday for comment on the new funding approved. But since then, no agreements formula, Kirton said he had spoken with rephave been made. resentatives of the Port Gamble Tribe. Kirton said he was pleased with the “Their attorney has indicated that the tribe agreement. will support this,” he said. “The tribe was the “We discussed many options and we feel main force behind getting rid of the $50,000 we reached an agreement that we can all live minimum and I think they will be happy with by,” he said. the final decision.”
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