911 cellphone fees on the ballot in Jackson County. How should you vote on Question 1?
In 2020, most Missouri households are wireless-only when it comes to how they pick up the phone. But if you’re among those who still maintain a landline, you are footing the entire bill for 911 emergency call service in Jackson County. A question in the November election could change that — and put a few dollars back in your pocket, too.
Question 1 on the Jackson County ballot asks if the county should impose a maximum of $1 per month on all subscribers to phone service, mobile or landline, to fund the 911 system. Missouri, where 911 is still handled at the county level, is far behind most of the rest of the United States both in coverage and the ability to identify where a caller is located. Today, 16 of the 114 counties in the state lack basic 911 service even for landlines, and 28 lack the ability to determine callers’ locations.
Missouri is the only state in the nation that doesn’t require cell subscribers to help financially support its 911 systems — and in the Kansas City area, more than 80% of 911 calls come from cellphones, according to the Mid-America Regional Council. That number will only grow.
Jackson County Legislator Jeanie Lauer has been aware of the problems in our outdated emergency call system for years. When she was a state representative in 2017, she introduced a 911 fee bill in the Missouri House similar to the Jackson County ballot question. That measure, like companion legislation from state Sen. Wayne Wallingford, didn’t advance. And that’s a shame.
“First of all, this is a matter of public safety,” Lauer told The Kansas City Star Editorial Board. “We need to bring our existing structure up to date. This is just a matter of fact: We haven’t caught up to the modern world, and the reality is that more and more people are using mobile phones.” Lauer noted that the measure has bipartisan support in both the Missouri House and Senate, and is not opposed by the telecom industry.
“People’s lives and safety are at stake,” she added. She’s right.
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Landline phone users in Jackson County currently pay a flat fee of 7% on their phone bills, so the new $1 charge would mean a reduction of a few dollars a month in what most people pay. And while cell customers are rightfully wary of line items’ way of creeping up on their bills, a dollar a month is not onerous. Those who still maintain a wired phone at home will likely save money in the long run with the reduction in their landline fees. Jackson County officials are hopeful that revenues from the new system would be neutral.
Question 1 won’t fix the inherent problems in Missouri’s fractured emergency call system, which must be addressed on a county-by-county basis. But it would help bring Jackson County closer to an equitable solution for a vital service that everyone relies on. It deserves your yes vote.
This story was originally published October 8, 2020 at 5:00 AM.