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http://www.omniture.com --> Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend May 19, 2006 Bills spike for police departments By Sanne SPecht Mail Tribune The cost of doing business for several local police departments took a big jump after Southern Oregon Regional Communications presented their 2006-07 bill for providing emergency dispatch services. Jacksonville Police Chief David Towe said his SORC bill came in at a budget-breaking $42,341, up from last year's $26,875. "I had sticker shock," said Towe. "That was definitely a dramatic number." SORC handles 9-1-1 calls, dispatching police, fire and rescue crews for 27 agencies that include the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, eight city police departments, most city and county fire districts, an ambulance service and Crater Lake National Park. SORC Director Margie Puckett confirmed the agency's fees to Rogue River, Gold Hill, Jacksonville and Shady Cove jumped from between 57 to 103 percent this year. "We did have significant increases, initially," said Puckett. Towe, along with two other local police chiefs, said taking their billing concerns to SORC led to reduced fees. Jacksonville's bill was reduced to $30,072, Towe said. Others said the agency's billing system needs further review. The Gold Hill Police Department was hardest hit with a 103 percent increase, said Chief Dean Muchow. Last year SORC charged the city $14,268. SORC's original projection of $29,054 for 2006-07 was later reduced to $23,326, he said. That is not enough, Muchow said. "We had a 103 percent increase and now we have about an 80 percent increase," Muchow said. Gold Hill's call volume for 2004-05 and 2005-06 rose from 818 to 1,226 respectively, Puckett said. "They have had nearly a 50 percent increase in calls for service," said Puckett. But Muchow says that doesn't account for the size of the increase. "Suppose we had a 46 to 50 percent increase in calls; that doesn't equate to a 100 percent increase in costs," he said, adding that use of the service ought to drive the fee structure. SORC bills are based on assessed property values in the jurisdictions they serve — as well as the minutes of air time and calls for service, said Puckett. The billing problem resulted because SORC's computerized billing system automatically charges for all calls for service regardless of their urgency or time of day — and small police departments generally do not have full-time coverage, said Puckett. Rogue River Police Chief Ken Lewis explained that when small departments don't have an officer on full duty, low-priority calls aren't handled immediately but continue to draw "open call" charges until an officer comes back on shift. Reductions to the fees were made for smaller departments in those instances. "We ended up nearly being penalized about $25,000 for being understaffed," said Lewis. Shady Cove Police Chief Rick Mendenhall said he is pleased SORC worked to solve the fee imbalance. Rates in that town initially increased from $25,918 to $45,063, but were later recalculated at $33,765, he said. Mendenhall also credits larger agencies' willingness to absorb the smaller departments' decreases. The Jackson County Sheriff Department will pay an additional $30,000 in SORC fees, Mendenhall added. "It's nice to know that our dispatching center is willing to work with the smaller agencies," said Mendenhall, "and that the bigger agencies are willing to pick up the slack." Muchow said SORC needs to demonstrate how its fees and costs are equally administered. "If that means there aren't as many dispatchers, then that's fine," said Muchow. Puckett said SORC will continue reviewing its billing system, but added the agency has its own budget to protect. "We're actually below where we should be," said Puckett. "It's a balancing act. Everybody is under budget constraints." Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy