But, state law provides for the tariff to be from 5 to 15 percent of the base telephone bill, rather than in the dollar amount of $1.50, and the commissioners are expected to amend the resolution at their meeting next week to reflect an increase in percentage rather than in dollar amount.
As part of the commissioners' resolution, they added the following stipulations. If Gov. Brad Henry approves a 50-cent charge per month for cell phones, then 50 cents of the increased tariff on landlines will be subtracted, making the landline tariff $1 per month. An annual review of the Sequoyah County 9-1-1 financial status will be presented to the commissioners. If they find the service is being over-funded by the additional tariff, the tariff will be decreased accordingly. If, eventually, it is found the tariff is not needed, it will be removed.
Charles "Chuck" Wyckoff, 9-1-1 board member, said the resolution will next go to the district attorney for review. If he approves it, the 9-1-1 board will notify the telephone companies involved to increase the tariff. Wyckoff said it would be about 60 days before the tariff appears on residents' telephone bills.
The increased tariff does not affect Sequoyah 9-1-1, which serves the east end of the county, and the 427- telephone exchange.
Most residential customers with SBC service pay 50 cents a month to fund Sequoyah County 9-1-1. Raising the tariff to $1.50, or 15 percent of the base bill which is what most SBC customers pay, will triple the income for Sequoyah County 9-1-1, the commissioners noted, although some of that money may have to be returned to the telephone companies.
According to an opinion of the district attorney's office, the increased tariff can only be used for equipment.
Wyckoff asked Assistant District Attorney Jeff Sheridan at a 9-1-1 meeting last week about how the additional $1 can be spent. Sheridan said the law allows the tariff to be spent only on equipment. Sheridan said that would include mapping and addressing, which is expected to improve response time by emergency personnel. He said it would also include posting signs on county roads.
Wyckoff noted that would free up the base 50 cents to pay the 9-1-1 calltakers, and allow Sequoyah County 9-1-1 to continue with mapping and addressing, signage and updating equipment.
The 9-1-1 board members have said in the past that they believe the best plan for the 9-1-1 system is to turn it over to SBC, which has a better means of updating data. However, SBC requires that the county be mapped and addressed, and that equipment be updated before taking over the system. The 9-1-1 board had hoped to achieve that status within a year.
Darryl Phillips, who resides north of Sallisaw, objected to the tariff increase, adding that he supports the 9-1-1 service but had concerns about management.
Phillips pointed to a report he submitted to the county commissioners in 1999, which indicated the Sequoyah 9-1-1 was not properly managed. Phillips asked if the 9-1-1 board had visited other 9-1-1 systems to determine how those systems were operated.
Wyckoff said, "I agree we need to find out what everybody else is doing, and we did find out. They have more money.
"SBC is our best route to have updated equipment and an updated data base. We need to get to that point, but right now we don't have any money."
Larry Vinson, also a 9-1-1 board member, said LeFlore, Okmulgee and Cherokee Counties have all increased the telephone tariff to pay for 9-1-1 service.
Wyckoff and Vincent both pointed out that management had changed since the system was voted on and approved by an 82 percent vote, and installation began in 1994. "But," Vincent said, "they made obligations which we have to honor."
He was referring to a self-contained system, not affiliated with the telephone companies, which was purchased and installed upon the advice of a consultant, Rebecca Leicheim of Tulsa. The system became quickly outdated, Vincent said, but the county was still obligated to pay for it.
The system is now paid for but must be updated before SBC takes control, Wyckoff said earlier.
Phillips also objected to the cost. He explained that his residence has several landlines, some of which are considered business lines. He said the tariff on his phone bills was already over $2.
David Taylor of the Sequoyah 9-1-1 service in the east end of the county said that he also has two lines, and the tariff is higher. Taylor said residents in the east end of the county pay a 75-cent tariff on their base telephone charge.
Later Phillips suggested SBC provide a complete accounting of how SBC levies the tariff and a count of homes and businesses on which the tariff is levied.
District 2 Commissioner Steve Carter abstained from voting on the resolution. He said he also wanted to see a better accounting of the tariff.
In response to the objections, District 3 Commissioner Cleon Harrell read a prepared statement in support of the 9-1-1 service.
Harrell said, "I can personally thank 9-1-1 for saving the life of one person who was very close to me...my father."
Harrell also said voters overwhelmingly approved the 9-1-1 system, and if it should fail due to lack of funds, the county could face a class action lawsuit filed by county residents. "That lawsuit would make the $1 look good," Harrell said. He explained that if such a lawsuit were filed and won, the money raised by the tariff would have to be paid back and that payback would go on the county tax rolls.
Harrell said that if the 9-1-1 system, even with a higher tariff, saved one life, it was worth it.
The Sequoyah County 9-1-1 board said at their board meeting last week that the 50-cent tariff is bringing in only about $8,000 a month, while operating the system costs about $10,000 a month. Also, of that $8,000, about $2,000 goes back to the telephone companies to pay for the service and equipment. The 9-1-1 board members said Sequoyah County 9-1-1 is losing between $2,000 and $2,400 a month, and is having to pay salaries out of grant money awarded to do the mapping and addressing. The increased tariff will pay for the mapping and addressing, and replenish the grant funds.
Wyckoff said the Sequoyah County 9-1-1 board and the Sequoyah 9-1-1 board will be meeting in the future to consider merging the two services into one service for the entire county.
The east-end system is also do mapping and addressing and putting up road signs so the service can be operated by SBC.
Taylor noted that the east-end service is losing between $400 and $600 a month because many people are using cell phones only. The finances of the east-end service will improve when the governor signs a bill allowing for the 50-cent charge per month for cell phones, he said.
Taylor said the east-end 9-1-1 service had done its mapping and addressing and is working on updating equipment. He said it is hoped the east-end 9-1-1 service will be turned over to SBC by the end of this year or early next year.
In the meantime, Taylor and Wyckoff said the two 9-1-1 boards plan a meeting to consider merging the two systems.
Taylor pointed out that the east-end 9-1-1 service cannot increase the tariff except by a vote of the people.
"But, if we consolidate, the money will go both ways," he pointed out.
