MALONE — Franklin County wants its share of $200 million the state has collected on cellphones that was supposed to go to upgrade 911 service centers.
Legislators will discuss their options when they hold their monthly meeting, beginning at 9:15 a.m. today in the fourth-floor chambers of the County Courthouse.
The state began collecting 70 cents a month on cellphones in 1991 and bumped the rate to $1.20 a month in 2002.
The cash was promised to counties to defray the cost of providing 911 services and for equipment upgrades. But the state has kept most of it and given only a small percentage out, Emergency Services Director Ricky Provost has said.
Bills have been introduced in both houses of state government that would require the state to disburse 58.3 percent of the wireless-surcharge money to counties and keep 41.7 percent for its own use.
The resolution the county may act on supports passage of Senate bill S5509-B and Assembly bill A8489-A.
OTHER ACTION
Other resolutions under consideration today include:
• Abolishing 10 positions as the Career Development Center at OneWorksource transitions into the Department of Social Services, by Oct 1.
A majority of the employees will be absorbed into Social Services, and the rest may be hired by the Workforce Investment Board at the site it shares on Finney Boulevard with the State Department of Labor.
• End one contract and sign another for senior-employment services under Career Development. The Office for the Aging has a contract for senior-jobs programming from July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013. With the merger taking place, the contract must be reauthorized to carry the program through until June.
• Create a temporary position in the Office for the Aging to handle Medicare enrollments during an employee’s leave of absence because existing staff cannot take on the added duties.
The position would have a salary of $38,498 and exist for a period not to exceed a year.
• Extend the terms of the Industrial Development Agency’s Board of Directors to Dec. 31, 2012, to adhere to a new appointment policy that sets the service dates as Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 each year. Existing terms end Nov. 30.
• Allow Public Transportation Director Mary Shantie to administer a no-interest, revolving car-loan program through Social Services.
Email Denise A. Raymo: draymo@pressrepublican.com
