John Reynolds, The State Journal- Register (Springfield, IL)

The switch from landlines to cell phones is costing the Logan County 911 Center thousands of dollars in tax revenue each year.

Dan Fulscher, director of the Logan County Emergency Management Agency and 911, said that because cell phones are taxed at a lower rate than landlines, the emergency call center loses money every time someone ditches their landline for a cell phone.

In 2005, the call center received $409,200 in revenue from the phone tax, and in 2011, the tax generated $349,000.

That’s a drop of more than $60,000, and the experts think the trend will continue.

“Every indication we’re being told is that we can count on a good $30,000 per-year loss on landlines,” Fulscher said. “It’s a very large concern.”

One landline = 3 3/4 cell phones

In Logan County, people are taxed $1.95 monthly for every landline, and 911 receives $1.89 of that tax. Cell phones, by comparison, are taxed at a rate of 73 cents per phone, and the 911 center gets 57 cents.

“It takes 3 3/4 cell phones to make up for one landline,” Fulscher said. “If we don’t generate enough funds through cell phones, obviously, we are going to have to go back and find some other ways to generate money to keep the doors open.”

Logan County 911 also receives $150,000 from the city of Lincoln and $150,000 from the county each year.

To get more money, Fulscher and other county officials are asking state legislators to change the formula so cell phones and landlines are taxed at a closer rate.

State Rep. Rich Brauer, R-Petersburg, said he’s not ready to support a new tax, but added that the state does need to look at the problem.

“We’re certainly going to be talking with the counties to see if they have any proposals,” Brauer said.

Not every 911 center in the state is having the same problem as Logan County.

“A little over a year ago, state legislators passed a cell phone charge of $2.50 for the city of Chicago,” Fulscher said.

In Sangamon County, landlines and cell phones are taxed at the same rate, 75 cents per month. The 911 center gets about 69 cents of that tax.

Hectic work

Fulscher estimates that Logan County 911 can survive another year before it starts seeing serious money problems. He added that layoffs would not necessarily save money because that could lead to more overtime costs.

“We have two people in there per shift. Laying somebody off and trying to do a night shift with someone alone in there would not be an answer,” Fulscher said.

The Logan County 911 center answers calls for 42 agencies in Logan County, and receives a call, on average, every six minutes.

Sometimes, however, the center receives multiple calls at the same time.

“It’s not unusual for two to three 911 calls to come in on an accident or house fire at the same time. Multi-tasking is a necessity for the dispatchers inside the room,” Fulscher said.

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By the numbers

Logan County has seen the number of landlines and their phone tax revenue decline over the years.

2005

• 15,291 landlines
• 9,123 cell phones
• Tax Money Generated: $409,200

2011

• 9,048 landlines
• 21,053 cell phones
• Tax Money Generated: $349,000

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