2.) New Phone Tax

Background:
A few years ago, the legislature added a fee on the monthly bill of every cell phone subscriber with the funds going to pay for technology to respond to calls to 911 emergency centers.

Budget issue:
Legislators decided to continue a monthly cell phone fee and set it at $.75 per phone line. However, the funds now go to counties to replace a reduction in state aid, and are to be used for general ‘public safety’ purposes, which may or may not include costs to operate a 911 call center.