HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2015.04.23 - 21812Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
Commissioner Dave Woodward
District #19
Commissioner
District #
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #15114
BY: Commissioner Shelley Taub, District #12; Commissioner Dave Woodward, District #19
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — AUDIT OF COLLECTION AND REMITTANCE OF
EMERGENCY 911 FEES BY COMMUNICATION SERVICE PROVIDERS
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS an effective and reliable 911 system is critical to protect the health and safety of every person
in Oakland County and the State of Michigan; and
WHEREAS the expansion of wireless communication usage has increased the need for enhanced 911
technology that allows 911 dispatchers to receive detailed information about the specific physical location
of a caller in an emergency; and
WHEREAS 911 fees provide for the installation, operation, modification, and maintenance of universal
emergency 9-1-1 service systems throughout Michigan; and
WHEREAS all communication service suppliers that provide a communication service to a service user in
the State of Michigan must bill and collect state and county 911 charges; and
WHEREAS communication services, as defined by law, include any service capable of accessing,
connecting with, or interfacing with a 911 system - including a local telephone device, cellular telephone
device, wireless communication device, interconnected voice over the internet device; and
WHEREAS retailers of prepaid wireless telecommunication services are required by law to collect state
and county 911 charges for each transaction; and
WHEREAS a February 2012 report issued by the Auditor General of Michigan "determined that
approximately $4.7 million and $7.3 million of emergency 9-1-1 service charge revenue may not have
been remitted by service suppliers for fiscal years 2008-09 and 2009-10, respectively"; and
WHEREAS the 2012 Auditor General report also found "the Department of Treasury's emergency 9-1-1
Database indicated that only 181 (72%) service suppliers were actually remitting service charge revenue";
and
WHEREAS state regulators lack the authority to audit service providers to ensure fees are being collected
and remitted properly; and
WHEREAS the Auditor General has recommended that the Michigan State Police and Department of
Treasury "should pursue amendatory legislation and other measures necessary to ensure that all service
suppliers collect and remit all emergency 9-1-1 service charge revenue"; and
WHEREAS according to statistics provided by the FEC, the number of wireless subscriptions in Michigan
is now in excess of 10.1 million and 2.8 landlines are still in use; and
WHEREAS while the net number of connections have increased, state and county 911 fee revenues have
not kept pace; and
WHEREAS the lack of sufficient oversight of the collection of 911 fees by communication service
providers constitutes a failure to ensure these funds are being properly collected and remitted.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners calls upon the
Michigan Legislature to adopt legislation granting authority to state regulators to investigate and audit the
collection and distribution of 911 fees by communication service providers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners calls upon the Michigan Association of
Counties to take a leadership role in advancing this needed legislation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Oakland is directed to submit a copy of this
resolution to the Office of the Governor, Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, the House Speaker and
Minority Leader, the Michigan Association of Counties and members of the Oakland County delegation to
the Michigan Legislature.
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Resolution #15114 April 23, 2015
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Finance Committee, There were no objections.