State Governor Proposes 911 Fund Diversion

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle’s proposed budgeet includes taking $100 million from the state’s 911 surcharge fund for two years to help cover “police and fire protection” affected by a $1.6 billion budget shortage. The budget also proposes killing a plan to increase the current 16¢ monthly 911 surcharge fee to 75¢ per month. If the budget is adopted, the diversion would make the state ineligible for any part of $43.5 million in federal grant funding, critics of the plan point out. The state collects about $7 million a year from the 911 surcharge. According to Dane County officials, they would have to replace $557,000 now received from the state surcharge fund each year. A legislative committee could decide this week on the 911 portion of the budget. Read more here.