Sponsor: Emergency Communications
Title
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Public Safety Answering Point Funding Allocation Project
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Recommendation
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1. Establish a project account number for Public Safety Answering Point one-time funding allocation project.
2. Authorize the County Manager to move up to $373,777.53 of Emergency Communication’s Fund balance to the Public Safety Answering Point one time funding allocation project in BY2024.
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Background and Rationale
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The Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) continues efforts at the local, state, and national levels to make 911 systems more efficient and less costly to all levels of governments. In 2023, the Statewide Emergency Service Board (SECB) allocated one time funding to primary PSAP entities. The Emergency is Communication Network (ECN), a branch of the Department of Public Safety, in collaboration with the SEBC recognized the significant costs at the local level to upgrade equipment to ensure it is cable all of interfacing with the new digital network. Every PSAP will undergo an extensive assessment to determine the inclusive costs for which each PSAP will be responsible over the course of the next year. To offset these interim costs while the PSAP assessments are being conducted, every eligible PSAP received a one-time increase to their annual statutorily defined appropriation to assist in covering initial and prerequisite costs required to mitigate from transitional to end state next-generation 911(NG-911). Ramsey County received $373,777.53, as provided in MN Statutes, Section 403.133 subdivision 2. These funds have the same restrictions and requirements as the annual statutorily defined appropriation for NG-911 and should be set up in their own project with the ECC fund 14001. A project was not created in calendar year 2023 and the one-time allocation rolled to the ECC fund 14001 fund balance. Board approval is needed to establish the project and allocate the one-time allocation funds currently in the ECC fund balance to the project.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Next-generation 911 benefits all Minnesotans, regardless of any diversity, cultural, or demographic variables. All Minnesotans will be able to connect to the state-of-the-art 911 network to deliver the request for assistance to the correct 911 call center based on their location.
Community Participation Level and Impact
There is no community engagement associated with this request for board action.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact will allow Emergency Communications to establish a project and utilize the one-time funding direct allocation from the state to offset interim costs while Minnesota works in collaboration with the SECB and the Commissioner of Public Safety on interoperable public safety communications between and amongst disparate agencies and jurisdictions across the state. The project will increase the appropriation authority for Emergency Communications in compliance with the requirements from the state. Funds were received in 2023; however, a project was not created in calendar year 2023 and the onetime allocation rolled to ECC fund balance 14001 creating an available balance for the Dispatch ECC fund balance of $3,258,730. The establishment of the project in the amount of $373,777.53 will leave an available Dispatch ECC Fund balance of $2,884,852.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
None.