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INTRODUCED BY: Warner
PROPOSED BY: What -Comm Administrative
DATE: July 7, 1988
RESOLUTION NO. 88 -35
A RESOLUTION IN THE MATTER OF SUBMITTING TO
THE VOTERS A PROPOSAL TO FUND AN EMERGENCY
TELEPHONE SYSTEM
WHEREAS, the Revised Code of Washington Title 82.14B.010 states
that counties should be provided with an additional revenue source
to fund emergency service communication systems on a county -wide
basis; and
WHEREAS, "emergency services communication system" has been de-
fined as a county -wide radio or landline communications network,
911 telephone system, which provides rapid public access for co-
ordinated dispatching of services, personnel, equipment, and fa-
cilities for police, fire, medical, or other emergency services;
and
WHEREAS, the Legislature has found that the most efficient and
appropriate method of deriving additional revenue for this pur-
pose is to vest the legislative authorities of the counties,
subject to voter approval, with the power to impose an excise
tax on the use of telephone access lines; and
WHEREAS, "telephone access line" has been defined as the telephone
service line which connects a subscriber's main telephone(s) to
the telephone company's switching office; and
WHEREAS, R.C.W. 82.14B.030 authorizes the County to impose as
excise tax on the use of telephone access lines in an amount not
exceeding fifty cents per month for each telephone access line,
which tax must be approved by the voters.
WHEREAS, the State Legislature in the Revised Code of Washington
Title 82.14BO30 states that counties may, upon voter approval im-
pose this excise tax for six years without subsequent voter ap-
proval; and
WHEREAS, in November of 1982, the voters of Whatcom County approved
the ballot proposition to impose an excise tax on the use of tele-
phone access lines for the purpose of funding a 911 telephone sys-
tem in the amount not to exceed fifty cents per month for each
telephone access line.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council shall
present to the Auditor's Office a proposition to be placed upon the
ballot for the election to be held on the 8th day of November, 1988;
and said proposition shall state as follows:
Shall Whatcom County continue to impose an excise tax
on the use of telephone access lines for the purpose
of funding an emergency service communication system
(911 telephone system) in an amount not to exceed fifty
cents per month for each telephone access line?
YES
NO /
Bd.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in the event the voters approve the
Ballot proposition it is the intent of the Whatcom County Council to
continue to maintain a 911 emergency communications system and 911
answering point in cooperation with the other government entities
involved following the outline as laid out in attached Exhibit "A ",
submitted to the Whatcom County Council.
PASSED this 7th day of July , 1988.
TTEST:
ROVED AS TO FORM:
/ L.--.
Ay Prosequtiog ttorney
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
onald G. sey
Vice Chair
EXHIBIT "A"
The 9 -1 -1 Resolution is intended to provide a revenue source to assist
funding of a county -wide emergency services communications system.
The 9 -1 -1 system provides for consolidated and coordinated dispatch
for law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services. 9 -1 -1 is an
easily remembered 3 -digit emergency number and assures the public a
quicker response to life threatening emergencies. If authorized by
the voters, the County Council will continue to levy a telephone tax
of 50 cents per month for each telephone access line.
The emergency services communications system and 9 -1 -1 answering point
shall continue to be maintained in accordance with the proposals,
specifications and design outlined in the 911 Study Committee Report
submitted to the County Council, dated January 15, 1982. It shall
continue to provide a "ring -down system ", to accommodate calls for
those police agencies currently dispatched by the U.S. Border Patrol
and any rural fire district which may not be a member of the emergency
services What -Comm Communications Center.
The emergency services What -Comm Communications Center shall continue
to be structured as outlined in the existing What -Comm Communications
Center Interlocal Cooperative Agreement. Specifically, there shall
continue to be an Administrative Board, which shall be the
administrative policy- making agency for the Center. The board shall
be composed of elected officials from the various entities utilizing
the system as prescribed in the Agreement.
There shall also continue to be an Operations Committee which will
provide operational supervision of the Communications Center.
Membership shall be composed of representatives from the user agencies
of the Center's services as prescribed in the Interlocal Agreement.