Ventura's 911 System Response Fee
The deadline to submit enrollment forms for the per-call option was Tuesday, May 6, 2008.
The next enrollment period is from May 1 to 15, 2009, and will occur annually.
Ventura residents with new telecommunications service have 30 days to enroll for the per-call option, and should be notified of this through the service provider.
Special Notice:
Residents who choose the per call option of the City of Ventura's monthly 911 fee, which funds public safety services and the emergency response communications system, may be receiving credits in the fall from service providers who may mistakenly implement the charges for all customers.
City staff are working closely with the telecommunication companies in Ventura to ensure that any and all telephone, data and fax lines enrolled in the per-call option for the 911 fee are exempted from the monthly charge or receive an account credit if mistakenly charged. The charges would occur if the service provider experiences a delay between the implementation of the fee and the integration of customer records. Not all residents who opted out of the 911 fee will be charged and credited; this issue is limited to a handful of service providers and is being dealt with as quickly as possible.
FAQs about Ventura's Emergency Communication System Response Fee
- Questions not answered here? Please call 805-339-4337.
- View the final Ordinance 2008-006
- View the full Administrative Report from May 12, 2008
- View the full Administrative Report from Feb. 25, 2008
- View the full Administrative Report from Jan. 28, 2008
- View a video about the City's revenue and spending, titled Budget 101
Thank you for your interest in the Emergency Communication System Response Fee. The fee, which goes into effect May 6, 2008, was created to generate revenue for public safety; the City plans to use funds from the fee to hire six new police officers and three new firefighters with the goal of improving citywide emergency response times. The Emergency Communication System Service Fee will also provide funding for critical upgrades to the existing Emergency Communication Center, which operates at a cost of $3.3 million annually.
Q. What is the Proposed Emergency Communication System Service Fee?
A. Ventura operates a 24/7 full service Emergency Communications Center. This center is the heart of all public safety emergency dispatch and coordination services provided by the city. The fee will fund existing services and upgrades to the city's emergency response system.
The Emergency Communication System Service Fee will only cost $1.49 per month per phone line. If you choose to pay per-use, the fee will be $17.88 per call. The monthly fee only recovers 85% of the actual cost of the Emergency Communication System.
Q. Why is it necessary?
A. The City's Emergency Communication Center costs over $3.3 million dollars each year to operate. The fee will allow the City to recover a large percentage of this expense and direct more funding towards improving emergency response times. Currently, the city's police and fire staffing levels can only provide a response to emergency calls in less than 5 minutes about 55% of the time, far below the goal of 90%. Emergency response times of less than five minutes are a critical factor in providing a healthy and safe community. As part of establishing this fee, the City will be able to hire six new Police Officers and three new Firefighters to help improve response times.
The Emergency Communication System Service Fee will also provide funding for critical upgrades to the existing Emergency Communication Center.
Q. Do I have a choice about how to pay?
A. The enrollment period for the per-call option is closed. It will reopen from May 1 to 15, 2009, and annually thereafter. You can elect to pay for Emergency Communication System Service Fee on a monthly or per-use basis.
Q. How is the fee collected?
A. If you're on the monthly plan, the Emergency Communication System Service Fee has been added to your phone bill. If you have elected to pay on a per-use basis, you will be billed using information obtained when you make your payment choice.
Q. Will I be denied emergency service if I don't pay the fee first?
A. No. Emergency response services are provided regardless of anyone's enrollment status. The Emergency Communications System Service Fee is set up so that all charges will be collected after the calls are made.
Q. Will I be charged to make an emergency call if I see an accident or fire that I am not involved in?
A. If you're on the monthly plan you can use the Emergency Communications System as often as needed at no additional charge. If you're on the per-use plan, the city can waive "good Samaritan" calls when appropriate. The city's goal is not to discourage legitimate Emergency Communications System use.
Q. Do Lifeline Phone Customers Have to Pay?
A. No. Lifeline phone customers are exempt from the Fee. The City will absorb the cost of service for lifeline customers.
Q. Will I have to pay for calls from a pay phone?
A. No. Coin operated phones are exempted.
Q. What about cell phone users?
A. Cell phones that are billed to addresses in Ventura are subject to the fee.
Q. Have any other cities or counties done this?
A. Yes, 12 others. Proposition 218 requires cities and counties to balance taxes with user fees and other kinds of revenue. Several cities and counties collect this type of Fee.
Q. Is this a fee or a tax?
A. This is a fee because the California Constitution specifically allows local governments to recover "the costs reasonably borne" in providing services to users. User fees are a means of assuring fair and equitable allocation of the cost of government among service users, taxpayers, ratepayers and property owners. This ordinance is specifically tailored so that users of the service will bear the cost of providing Ventura's Emergency Communications System.
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