911 Funding -

The only income that Stoddard County 911 Services receives is based on a land-line tariff tax. A land-line telephone is a phone that has to be plugged into a wall. The tax is 15% of the base telephone bill, which normally comes out to be $1.14 a month. This went into effect when the county voted for 911 in Stoddard County. The first 911 system went on-line in October of 1995.

Cellular Tariff Issue -

A cellular tariff tax has never been passed in Missouri. We are the only state in the nation without a cellular tariff income for 911. The 911 centers in Missouri do not receive any income to handle cellular 911 calls. Since cellular phones have become the new technology, a lot of citizens have disconnected their land line phones and have only a cellular phone. Therefore, our income has gone down tremendously over the last five years, and will continue to do so. Not only are we not getting paid to answer cellular calls, but our only income has decreased dramatically.

Technology changes every day and the 911 centers in Missouri, as well as everywhere, are expected to maintain their equipment to give their citizens the best response possible in an emergency situation. Our telephony equipment runs 24/7 for 365 days a year. After five years, the equipment needs to be replaced. In fact, after five years, it is considered obsolete. We are on our third system since 1995. But this is just one piece of equipment that is needed to run a successful and compliant 911 center. Other equipment includes: a recorder, radios, Computer-aided Dispatch (CAD), and a mapping program. At this time, the only information we receive when a 911 call is made from a cell phone is a tower number and occasionally a call back number. We are working toward being cell phone compliant, but our funding situation has to change for this to happen. Fifty cents a month on your cell phone bill would be a great solution.

Let me ask you a question...What is the main reason you have a cell phone?  Yes, to call 911 if having an emergency.

On behalf of the Board of Directors for Stoddard County 911 Services, the employees, and the welfare of our citizens, we would very much appreciate your help in this matter.  Please talk with our legislators and cell phone companies.  They should be concerned that we can not locate a cellular call.

Please call or come by with any questions or concerns you may have.  I would be glad to go over the budget with you, so you can see first hand what is happening.

Carol Moreland  Administrator                                                                                                                                                              

Send mail to carol@stoddard911.org with questions or comments about this web site.