AN HONEST BUDGET WOULD REDUCE AND RESTRICT 911 FEES

Warwick, RI – While State House Democrats are working on next year’s budget, Republicans have been doing some research of their own into 911 fees. Based on documents provided by the R.I. Department of Administration, over $170 million in 911 charges have been diverted from the E-911 system.

R.I. Republican National Committeeman Steven Frias explained: “The 911 charge was first set in 1989, and originally all 911 fees were placed in a restricted account to be used solely for the E-911 system. At the time, Rhode Island’s E-911 system was considered a model, and during the 1990s nearly all the money raised from 911 fees was spent on the E-911 system. But, in 2000, under the leadership of House Finance Chairman Antonio Pires, the General Assembly adopted a budget that eliminated the requirement that 911 fees be placed in a restricted account. After the restricted account was eliminated, under the leadership of House Finance Chairman Gordon Fox, the General Assembly increased the 911 charge from 47 cents to $1 per month over the veto of Governor Lincoln Almond in 2002. A 911 related GIS surcharge of 26 cents per month for wireless phones was added in 2004. Since the restricted account for 911 fees was eliminated, $173.7 million in 911 charges have been diverted from the E-911 system, and only about one-third of 911 charges have actually been spent to benefit the E-911 system.”

R.I. Republican Party Chairman Brandon Bell commented: “Because of President Trump’s tax reform, Rhode Island’s budget situation has somewhat improved. Now is the time to pass an honest budget in Rhode Island. 911 fees should be reduced and put in a restricted account. Rather than being used for the E-911 system, 911 fees have been misspent to help pay for the salaries of political operatives, PR staff, and legislative grants. 911 fees should be used only to save lives, not to save the political life of any State House politician.”