An extra dollar a month could go a long way for Jackson County first responders.
"We're stretched pretty thin," explained Sheriff Steven Rand.
He told Fox 47 News the budget cuts over the years have left the County's 9-1-1 center underfunded by $800,000 and 18 employees short.
"I don't have any illusion that we're gonna get 38 employees out of this," he said. "What we do hope to do is add at least 3 or 4 more to help bolster the numbers down there. Because as you know, with cell phones being so common nowadays, the number of calls coming in has rapidly increased."
And, he said they're struggling to keep up, with many staff members working overtime.
"They're incredibly busy, incredibly overworked," he added.
At the polls next Tuesday, voters in Jackson County will be asked to approve the surcharge of $1.06 more per month per phone.
It'll not only help the center, but the extra money will also improve dispatch to first responder communication.
The current radios were bought in 2005, making them 11 years old.
The Sheriff told us the equipment is worn out and many of the radios can't be replaced because the parts aren't made anymore.
So, the new money would help police and fire departments across the county purchase hundreds more.
"This isn't a luxury, this is a necessity," explained Chief Tim McEldowner with Spring Arbor & Summit Township Fire.
His teams rely heavily on the radios.
"Communication plays a key role in that early assessment and figuring out what level of resource and response is gonna be required for that incident," he explained.
And, the radio communication keeps crews safe while battling a fire.
"If they experience a problem while they're inside that structure, that's really their only life-line to the outside, to notify that they're having a problem," he said. "So, it is really a life or death issue."
The vote on the surcharge is May 3rd.
Right now, residents pay a $0.44 surcharge. If passed, it would go up to $1.50 pe month. So, $18 a year.
