Ballot issues: 911 and special districts

Among the issues on the April 2 ballot are two counties seeking to charge cellphone users to fund 911 services.

Southern Boone Fire Protection District

The district is asking its residents to approve a tax of up to 12 cents per $100 of assessed value to provide operational funds. The 12-cent increase would lead to about $34 more in taxes each year for the owner of a $150,000 home.

Randolph County 911

The county wants to put a $1 monthly tax on any communications service capable of calling 911, a definition which would include mobile devices, for the purposes of funding 911 dispatching. Emergency officials have long complained of a declining revenue from landline phones to fund 911 communications as more people switch to using only cellphones.

Maries County 911

Maries County has a proposal on the ballot identical to that in Randolph County – levying a $1 charge on all communications devices capable of calling 911 to fund 911 dispatching services.

Saling Special Road District

The road district is asking to continue levying a 35 cents per $100 of assessed valuation property tax for the next four years. For the owner of a $150,000 home, the 35-cent tax is equal to about $100 per year.

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