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JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO:
Board of Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
FROM:
Janet Silvus, Direetor
Jeff Com 911
DATE:
October 11, 2010
RE:
Ordinance in the Matter of Amending the Enhanced 911 Excise
Tax
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
A public hearing is required to decide in the matter of amending the Enhanced 911 Excise Tax.
On January I, 2011 counties may impose and/or amend an E911 excise tax for each switched
access line, radio access line, and interconnected voice over internet protocol (VOIP) service
line, in the amount not exceeding seventy cents per month. Counties imposing an E911 excise
tax must contract with the Department of Revenue for the lldministration and collection of the
tax prior to the effective date of the ordinance imposing the tax. The tax for switched access
line and radio access line has remained at fifty cents since 2003, and there has been no tax
imposed on VOIP. By imposing this tax, Jefferson County will comply with standards
adopted by the Washington State Legislature. Revenue from this tax will be used to fund
enhanced 911 communication systems in Jefferson County.
ANALYSIS:
Substitute Senate Bill 6846 passed by the Washington State Legislature and signed by
Governor Christine Gregoire on April 13, 2010 provides for the legislative anthority ofa
county to impose, effective as early as January 1,2011 a county enhanced 911 excise tax.
Further, RCW 82.14B.030(5) accords that excise tax may not be distributed to any county that
has not imposed the maximum county enhanced 911 excise tax allowed under RCW
82.14B.030(1) and (2).
FISCAL IMPACT:
Jefferson County currently receives almost $326.305 annually for enhanced 911 services from
State funds, for which the County would not be eligible after December 31, 2010 unless it
imposes the maximum county enhanced 911 excise tax.
..............
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RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Ordinance Amending the Enhanced 911 Excise Tax.
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Janet Silvus, JeflCom Director, ext. 788
REVIEWED BY:
t'00do
or Date
STATE OF WASHINGTON
County of Jefferson
In the Matter of Amending the
Enhanced 911 Excise Tax on the
Use of switched access lines,
Radio access lines, and
Interconnected Voice Over
Internet Protocol service lines
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ORDINANCE NO.
WHEREAS, JEFFERSON County currently collects local enhanced 911 excise tax to be
used for an emergency services communication system, which provides for rapid public access
for coordinated dispatching of services, personnel, equipment, and facilities for police, fire
medical, or other emergency services; and
WHEREAS, since March 1, 1987, the county enhanced 911 excise tax on the use of
switched access lines (landlines) in Jefferson County has remained at fifty cents per month for
each switched access line, the maximum allowed under State law; and
WHEREAS, since January 1,2003, the county enhanced 911 excise tax on the use of
radio access lines (wireless-cellular) in Jefferson County has remained at fifty cents per month
for each radio access line, the maximum allowed under State law; and
WHEREAS, no county enhanced 911 tax on the use of interconnected voice over internet
protocol (V oIP) service lines has been imposed to date, although many who call 9-1-1 today are
using V oIP service lines to make the call; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature found that the state and counties should be
provided with an additional revenue to continue funding enhanced 911 emergency
communications systems throughout the state on a multicounty or countywide basis; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature further found that the appropriate method
of deriving additional revenue for this purpose is to extend the excise tax on the use of switched
access lines and radio access lines; and to apply the extended excise tax on the use of
interconnected voice over internet protocol service lines; and
WHEREAS, Substitute Senate Bill 6846 passed by the Washington State Legislature and
signed by Governor Christine Gregoire on April 13, 2010, provides for the legislative authority
of a county to impose, effective as early as January 1,2011, a county enhanced 911 excise tax on
the use of switched access, radio access, and interconnected voice over internet protocol service
lines in an amount not exceeding seventy cents per month for each line; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with this new legislation funds generated by the enhanced
911 excise tax imposed by RCW 82.14B.030(5) may not be distributed to any county that has not
imposed the maximum county enhanced 911 excise tax allowed under RCW 82.14B.030(1) and
(2); and
WHEREAS, Jefferson County currently receives almost $326,305 annually for enhanced
911 network, database, and language line services from these State funds, for which the County
would not be eligible after December 31, 2010 unless it imposes the maximum county enhanced
911 excise tax allowed under RCW 82.14B.030(1) and (2); and
WHEREAS, in accordance with RCW 38.52.510 each county must implement
countywide or multicounty-wide enhanced 911 emergency communications systems so that
enhanced 911 is available throughout the state and the county must provide funding for the
enhanced 911 communications system in the county in an amount equal to the amount the
maximum tax under RCW 82.14B.030(1) would generate in the county less any applicable
administrative fee charged by the department of revenue or the amount necessary to provide full
funding of the system in the county;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Board of County Commissioners of
Jefferson County , Washington, that effective January 1, 2011 an Excise tax of seventy cents will
be imposed for each telephone switched access line and radio access line, and an Excise tax of
seventy cents will be imposed on Voice over Internet Protocol.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this
day of October, 2010.
JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS
SEAL:
David Sullivan, Chair
ATTEST:
Phil Johnson, Member
Lorna Delaney, CMC
Clerk of the Board
John Austin, Member
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
David Alvarez,
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
(J
c)
Jefferson County Fire Protection District No.2.
COmmissioner David Ward
Chalnnan of the Board
Commissioner Debbie Randall
Commissioner Mike Whittaker
PO Box 433
Quilcene, WA 98376
360-765-3333, fax 360-765-3960
Jefferson County Commissioners
Courthouse
Port Townsend, WA 98368
September 14, 2010
Dear Sirs:
RECEIVED
SEP 1 6 2010
JEFFERSON COU~JTY
COMMISSIONF!:;0S
The Commissioners of Jefferson County Fire Protection District No.2 would Uke
me to convey to you that they are in support of the 20(1: increase on the
Enhanced 911 System.
Thank you,
t
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