At its Tuesday morning meeting, the Lake County Council unanimously approved a resolution asking for 911 services legislation to be added to the Indiana General Assembly’s upcoming legislative agenda.
All council members were present at Tuesday’s meeting, and the resolution passed without discussion.
“It’s been about 10 years since (911 fees) increased, and costs have gone up, and funds are needed,” Council President Christine Cid, D-5th, previously said. “We want some legislation at session, and we want to get that out as soon as possible.”
According to council documents, the county legislative body wants a $2 increase to state 911 fees and enhanced prepaid wireless telecommunication service charges to be added to the agenda.
Councilman Randy Niemeyer, R-7th, previously said that he has met with State Treasurer Daniel Elliott and his team about the resolution.
“The state treasurer is in charge of statewide 911, and he requested this resolution to be able to advocate to the General Assembly on behalf of Lake County for that increased fee … because it is an act of legislation … that allows this to happen,” Niemeyer previously said. “This is an important item for us to be able to bring a little more sustainable revenue stream to the service.”
The State Treasurer’s office declined to comment on the resolution and its work with Niemeyer.
An interlocal agreement consolidated emergency 911 services for Lake County, according to Post-Tribune archives. The services consolidated in January 2015, but dispatchers weren’t brought together until October 2015.
The state currently has a $1 911 service wireless charge, according to the resolution, and the state 911 board can only increase the fee once between April 30, 2023, and July 1, 2026, and the increase cannot exceed $0.10. Funds are distributed to county treasurers and help with property development, operation and maintenance of Indiana’s emergency system.
“911 services have grown both in geographic scope and in the level of service provided,” according to council documents. “The revenue used to fund 911 services almost entirely of fees and surcharges on wireline, wireless, Voice-over-Internet-Protocol telephone lines. These fees and surcharges generate billions of dollars each year, but 911 service revenues still fall short of estimated annual costs.”
The Indiana General Assembly started its 2026 session earlier this month to discuss redistricting and immigration measures, but it will likely gavel out on Friday then return for the rest of its 2026 session in January. Some bills are already proposed, according to its website, but the 911 legislation is not yet included.
