LANSING – State Representative Kate Ebli (D-Monroe) voted today to preserve funding for local 911 centers, ensuring that first responders throughout Michigan can act quickly to help residents in life-threatening situations and protect rural communities.
"People in all kinds of emergencies – from car crashes to break-ins to heart attacks – rely on a quick response from 911, and we have to protect the system that protects our lives," Ebli said. "I want to make sure that residents of Monroe County get the services they and their families need when they have an emergency. This plan ensures that our 911 centers can deliver the services that keep our communities safe."
The plan passed by the House today with strong bipartisan support protects the state funding that helps establish, maintain and operate 911 systems throughout Michigan. Under the plan, users of any 911-enabled device – landlines, cell phones and Internet phones – will pay the same user charge of just nineteen cents a month. The money will help ensure that counties can operate their life-saving 911 systems.
The plan requires that counties use all of the funding solely for the purpose of implementing, maintaining and operating their 911 centers.
"Public safety is an important part of quality of life, and something we can't afford to neglect," Ebli said. "This plan establishes a way to protect the funding that will enable our 911 centers to serve our residents well into the future."