TRUMBULL COUNTY Township leaders plan to pay 911 funds up front

Officials have a long-term plan to help finance the center.
WARREN -- Leaders of several Trumbull County townships believe they have found a way to keep 15 dispatchers from being laid off.
Members of the Trumbull County Township Association met Wednesday and approved a plan that would give county commissioners the money needed to keep the employees working.
"All of the townships that use 911 pay a monthly fee," said Darlene St. George, Howland Township administrator, said, "We each pay monthly, but to help the county get over the financial crisis, we will pay the full amount of what we owe now."
The only township that did not agree is Weathersfield. Officials there said they are considering pulling out of 911 and finding an alternative.
St. George explained that each township will now pay the county for the remaining nine months. Each township pays a different amount depending on its size.
Too few dispatchers
Commissioner James Tsagaris said he believes the county will now have enough money to keep the dispatchers working. He said the matter will be discussed today.
"Darlene brought this idea to me last week, and I really think it's a good option," Tsagaris said.
Trumbull County 911 dispatches for 20 townships, Cortland, Orangeville and the Trumbull County Sheriff's Department, St. George said.
If the county had to do layoffs, it would have just 13 dispatchers left, or about two per shift. That's not enough to keep up with the call volume, officials said.
The 911 center in Howland had a $2.1 million budget last year but faces a $614,000 shortfall this year.
"We need to now start working on a long-term plan so this doesn't happen again," Tsagaris said.
New clients or new tax
Councilman Dan Polivka said one of the ideas is to contact local communities, such as Liberty and Niles, and suggest that they join the county 911.
"It would be better if we could get everyone on board," Polivka said.
Commissioners are also discussing an additional sales tax. Public hearings on an additional Trumbull County sales tax will be held at 10 a.m. March 18 and 6 p.m. March 22. Both will be at the county administration building, 160 High St. N.W.
Proceeds from the tax, if enacted, would be used to maintain functions of county government, where layoffs and reduced hours are affecting the sheriff, 911 center, treasurer, auditor, recorder and other offices.