‘Earmark’ Funding Funneled to Comm Centers

Despite criticism by both political parties, Congressional earmarks may be the most effective method of funding public safety communications projects, according to an analysis of the much-maligned side-funding that was inserted into legislation during 2008. Earmarks have been criticized by both parties because the author of the funding doesn’t have to be identified, and they are always slipped into other legislation that has wide support. Many earmarks represent pet projects for members of Congress. The availability of earmarks is in stark contrast to the economic stimulus package signed by President Obama last week, which contained no specific funding for public safety communications. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) database reveals that nearly $188 million was included for small and large agencies to upgrade their law enforcement radio system to achieve interoperability or fund other communications-related projects. According to the OMB, the earmarks ranged from just $9,000 for Evanston (Ill.) to over $2.2 million for Cook County (Ill.), both for radio interoperability. A very few of the public safety earmarks were for other projects, including a siren warning system, mobile data systems, and mobile comm centers.

President Obama is now considering the latest Congressional budget, and has vowed to go “line by line” to examine earmarks, and to remove any that he considers wasteful or unnecessary.

Some of the 500 communications-related earmarks are difficult to classify, since they’re listed in the database simply as “technology upgrade” or as “interoperable law enforcement radio system.” Some of these generally-listed projects may actually be used to purchase equipment for other units of a law enforcement agency, and not the comm center.

California led the states with earmarks for public safety communications, with $19.9 million, followed by llinois ($10.6 million) and Pennsylvania ($10.0 million). At the bottom of the request list was Puerto Rico with $162,000 in earmarks, preceded by South Dakota ($362,000) and Oregon ($364,000).

Only the state of Maine and the District Columbia did not receive any earmark funding for public safety communications.

Among the funding allocated to multi-agency comm centers was the CCE Central Dispatch Authority (Mich.), and SouthCom Dispatch Center (Ill.). Some of the more obscure funding went to the United Keetowah Band of Cherokee Indians (Okla.), Pigeon Forge (Mo.), and Western Kentucky University.

Download (pdf) a compilation of the public safety-related earmarks here.