Public Officials Suggest Raising Land Line Fees to Support Montezuma County 911 Center

The possibility of raising the 9-1-1 surcharge on telephone land lines was discussed Monday at the Montezuma County Commission meeting. Representatives of local law-enforcement agencies and other government bodies came to talk about the need for additional funds to support the county’s dispatch center, which serves 13 different agencies in Montezuma County and part of Dolores County. Cortez Police Chief Roy Lane said $580,000 is needed  to replace aging technology, including four radio consoles and recording equipment. The current 9-1-1 surcharge of 70 cents produces around $200,000 a year. Cortez City Manager  Shane Hale said raising the fee to $1 would increase that to about $290,000, but also noted that many people are giving up their land lines. The commissioners voiced concern about using the funds to pay for operations rather than capital improvements. No decision was made, but the officials agreed to have a meeting of the 9-1-1 board to talk further.