Bill to help fund increasing operational costs for 911 dispatch centers sent to Governor Noem  (Audio)

March 8, 2024
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–House Bill 1092 has been sent to Governor Noem for her signature.

If signed, it would raise the 911 surcharge that is applied to each phone line in the state.

The money generated from that surcharge is used to fund the operations of 911 centers across South Dakota, including the regional 911 Dispatch Center in Watertown.

Troy Van Dusen manages that center.

He says the current surcharge of a dollar-25 per phone line has been in place for 12 years and not gone up, while the cost of doing business for those 911 centers HAS increased….

If Governor Noem signs the bill into law, the surcharge would increase to two-dollars per phone line.