Council questions increasing 911 budget

Kalispell City Council members are questioning why the city should pay more for the Flathead 911 Emergency Communications Center next year, even if it’s only a little more.

The consolidated dispatch center’s administrative board has approved a $2.8 million budget that has member municipalities Kalispell, Columbia Falls, Whitefish and Flathead County each pitching in 2 percent more for operations.

That marks a second straight 2 percent annual increase for member cities after a 20 percent increase the year before.

Over several years, Kalispell has watched its annual contribution grow from $352,266 to $428,736 to $437,311 to $446,057. That generated strong criticism and sharp questions from several council members Tuesday as they started working through their own $46.8 million budget plan for fiscal year 2013-14.

Council member Jeff Zauner — Kalispell’s liaison on the dispatch center’s administrative board along with Mayor Tammi Fisher — said he requested an independent review to look for ways to reduce operating costs in exchange for the larger contribution.

The request was voted down by the rest of the board..

Zauner said the dispatch center is a first-class facility and its services are improving, but there are numerous issues at hand.

“Like a high turnover rate, like we don’t have an operational manager and we’re seeking to replace a director that recently quit. Our overtime rate is incredible. It’s just out of control,” Zauner said. “If we start looking at all of these issues combined on the operational side, it warrants a review from an outside source. So Kalispell made a request saying we’re OK with the two percent as long as we can start stopping the flow.”

Budget records show the dispatch center spent $110,384 on overtime in fiscal year 2011, $102,074 in fiscal year 2012 and $79,430 so far in fiscal year 2013.

By comparison, the Kalispell Police Department in its $4 million budget request for next year is asking for $70,000 for overtime and $25,000 for special assignment overtime. The city’s fire department is asking for $40,000 for overtime.

The dispatch center was considering a larger budget with cities contributing almost 5 percent more next year but pared that back at the last minute, Zauner said.

“Where does it stop?” he asked.

Council member Phil Guiffrida III said he has growing concerns about the 911 center and its costs. He added that he fully supports the request for an operational review to get Kalispell’s support for the 2 percent increase.

“I don’t see the oversight at a level I would like to see with them coming back year after year after year,” Guiffrida said. “Public safety is extremely important, but it’s not a blank check. And in some instances I don’t even know if that black check was even signed.”

Guiffrida suggested splitting the requested increase out from the rest of the city budget for a separate vote. He also suggested a work session this summer to discuss the interlocal agreement governing the 911 center, if it’s being followed and if it can be reviewed or amended.

“I don’t even strongly disagree with two percent,” Guiffrida said. “But prove it. Show me what’s going on out there and tell me why you don’t want a fiscal audit.”

Council member Tim Kluesner agreed Kalispell must take a stand. He noted Kalispell taxpayers pay for the city’s share, the county’s share and for a bond passed to help fund the 911 center, as well as phone service charges for 911 services.

“This whole 911 service to me has been a total disappointment from when we started. The whole idea of consolidation was to get better service and save ourselves some money. And we didn’t. It’s costing us more money now and we don’t have any control over employees,” Kluesner said.

“The income sources are from many different places. It’s not just Kalispell residents. We’re all paying,” Kluesner said, adding, “I wouldn’t be against a two percent increase if I had a good justification.”

Mayor Fisher said the concerns are not unfounded.

“From my standpoint, your concerns are about going from an actual contribution of $350,000 in 2010 to almost $450,000 in 2013. That’s a significant jump,” Fisher said. “But this is just Kalispell’s contribution. We have four other substantial contributors as well. So we’re talking about over the course of the last two to three years about a half-million-dollar increase. That’s something everyone in this community should be aware of.”

Fisher said there have been “strong improvements” at the dispatch center with a lot of operational kinks worked out.

“But again, your fiscal concerns do not go unheard or fall on deaf ears, because that is a significant increase for our taxpayers. I think there’s a better level of service, but there were those times when we were able to manager our own dispatch center for about $300,000 a year, too,” she said.

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.