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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2087A Resolution X087 APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 1995-96 TARRANT COUNTY 9-1 1 DISTRICT BUDGET WHEREAS, the Tarrant County 9-1 1 Emergency Assistance District Board of Managers has approved the attached Budget and recommends that the City of Fort Worth approve the same for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1 1995 for the purposes set forth in the Budget; and, WHEREAS, the Budget is considered to be sufficient to maintain and operate the district and to allow full participation by the City of Fort Worth, and, WHEREAS, it is anticipated that no City tax revenues nor an increased monthly per line fee from Fort Worth telephone customers will be required to carry out the District's functions in the coming year NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the budget for the Tarrant County 9- 1 1 Emergency Assistance District for the fiscal Year beginning October 1 1995 and ending September 30 1996 is hereby approved by the City Council of the city of Fort Worth. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage Mayor ATTEST ~~~.'Gl,2.~ C ity ecretary Date: a- a :~~'rS APPROUNCIL CITY C AUG ~2 1995 ~ ~ City S~crbay of tits City of Fort W~'Sa~s CITY OF FURT WORTH TARRANT COUNTY 9-1-1 1995-96 BUDGET OVERVIEW INTRODUCTION • 9-1 1 District Back r The establishment of the Tarrant County 9-1-1 District was authorized by the state legislature and ratified by voters in 1985 for the purpose of implementing and maintaining an Enhanced 9-1 1 emergency call network for residents of the District. Service was established in August 1987 District boundaries include all of Tarrant County all areas outside Tarrant County included in the corporate limits of a member city plus DFW Airport and the City of Irving District Mana;_ ement As defined in the legislation, the District is governed by a Board of Managers who appoint an .Executive Director Current board members and their appointing authonty include Member Howard McMahan (Chair) Wyntress Ware Gary Robertson Robert McCollum Gary Fickes Lynn Triplett (Non-Voting) Appointed BY Fort Worth Fort Worth Arlington Tarrant County Mayors Council Southwestern Bell 1995-96 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS • The 1995-96 Budget reflects changes in the role and mission of the 9-1 1 District resulting from changes in the environment in which Enhanced 9-1-1 service is provided. These changes which are occurring nationwide include Explosive growth in wireless technology• The exponential growth in wireless communications without a corresponding capability to locate callers using wireless devices threatens to eluninate the location identification advantages of Enhanced 9-1-1 Whereas the FCC originally estimated 900 000 cellular users in the United States by the year 2000 there are currently over 30 million. These numbers will further increase when Personal Communications Services another wireless service hits the market late in 1995 When Tarrant County began 9-1 1 service in 1987 approximately 3 percent of emergency calls were from cellular users whereas today some call centers receive over 30 percent of their calls from cellular phone users These numbers are disturbing due to the fact that, unlike callers from landline phones these callers cannot be located if they are unable to relay an accurate location. Budget Overview Page 2 Significant changes in the telecommunications environment: In addition to the coming of Personal Communications Services consumers will in the near future have a choice of dial-tone providers This situation raises an issue concerning 9-1 1 data bases which are key to the proper call-routing and the location of the caller In the near future the methodology of constructing and maintaining the 9-1-1 data base will be revised significantly Significant advances in 9-1-1 technology Many of the issues confronting 9-1 1 service providers may be remedied by an improvement in equipment and services available to 9-1 1 networks Some of the applicable solutions are not available within the tanffed arrangements the District has utilized for most of the 9-1-1 service Therefore the Distracts and other providers of 9-1 1 service must evaluate select, and implement these products utilizing the expertise available within their own staff Continued elevated public expectations: As a result of television shows such as RESCUE 9-1 1 and public marketing efforts to encourage 9-1 1 use the expectations of the public as to the availability and functionality of 9-1 1 are high. This is a desirable outcome but compels the providers of 9-1 1 service to extend every effort to maxinuze 9-1-1 service availability and to mimm»e downtime due to equipment ,~„ malfunction, accident, or natural disaster As a result of the changes in the environment in which 9-1 1 service is provided and the technological changes both within and external to the 9-1 1 network, some additional services and functions will be assumed by this and other districts In addition to the continued provision of 9-1-1 services the monitoring of the network performance and the admuustrative and public marketing activities of the district, the 1995-96 budget strategy provides for the following• 1 Further upgrades of call center 9-1-1 equipment will be deferred until the configuration of the 9-1 1 network is better defined. At this point, investing in new call-taking equipment could involve investing in equipment with an extremely short useful life Exceptions would be call centers that are being relocated 2 Provide technical capability within the District staff to evaluate systems including both hardware and software and to provide the expertise to monitor the performance of components both within and outside the realm of services provided by the telephone companies • Budget Overview Page 3- 3 Maintain apro-active stance on behalf of 9-1-1 services to the citizens of the District. The Distract has already assumed a leadership role in terms of the State Advisory Commission and professional associations It will also maintain a high profile with regulatory agencies such as the PUC and the FCC when the docket involves 9-1 1 service 4. Place a continuing emphasis on training and education. The District, in conjunction with memberships and professional affiliations encourages not only attendance at professional conferences and seminars but formal education as well, through tuition reimbursement. The target areas mentioned do not result in significant increases in costs for the District, although the costs of future enhancements to the network are unknown at this tune Due to the deferral of system upgrades the overall budget will decrease slightly from the 1994-95 fiscal year BUDGET SUMMARY 1994-95 1994-95 1995-96 Budget Estunate Budget Revenues 2,758.200 2,877.430 2.979,400 Expenditures Personal Services 380 334 364 132 433 979 Supplies/Materials 72,500 62 900 68 193 Furniture/Equipment 17 155 25 106 49 857 Services/Rentals 2,765 714 2,586,369 2 435 833 Contingencies 20.000 0 20.000 Total Expenditures 3,255 703 3 038,507 3 007 862 Operating Surplus (497,503) (161 077) (28 462) (Deficit) n U Budget Overview Page -4- REVENUES Legislation which authorized the District provides for a monthly surcharge of up to 3 percent of the primary service provider's base rate The Tarrant County 9-1 1 District has always utilized a rate of 2 percent, however This rate structure includes a $ 20 per month per line charge for residential lines $ 46/line for business lines and $ 74/line for business trunk lines This is the lowest 9-1-1 surcharge rate in the State of Texas Fee revenue recovered during the current fiscal year to previous rates of growth, and exceeds the projected total for 1994-95 It is projected to continue this growth during the 1995-96 year The District also earns interest on invested fund balances Delays m unplementing GTE upgrades in Irving and at DFW Airport, the most expensive items on the 1994-95 schedule provided for a larger fund balance than anticipated, and increased interest revenue Interest earnings will remain higher than for previous years although it will amount to less than 2 percent of total revenues • EXPENDITURES The largest single expenditure item in the District Budget will always be the monthly charges for 9-1 1 service which includes lines data base charges and call center equipment. This is defined as 9-1-1 Service in the budget and represents two-thirds of the total budget for the 1995-96 fiscal year This category of expenditure is set by tanff and can only be reduced through reductions in service Due to the District decision to defer major upgrades to the system for the next fiscal year pending offerings by major service providers enhancements to the network will only amount to 5 percent of the 1995-96 budget, compared to 17 percent for the current year Increases in monthly charges due to growth in access lines and increased monthly charges for new call center equipment in Irving and at DFW partially offsets the decrease in enhancements Overall, the 1995-96 budget represents a slight decrease from total expenditures anticipated for 1994-95 • Budget Overview i Page 5- Personal Services During the current year the Board of Managers approved a compensation study by William Mercer Inc and approved a compensation schedule recommended by the firm. The 1995- 96 budget includes adjustments to the schedule recommended by Mercer as determined by local cost of labor Most of the increase in salaries and benefits are a result of the District increasing staff by one authorized position. This new position will be an Operations and Training Coordinator The District has not maintained a staff position in the past which requires technical capabilities However the trends identified earlier and the need for more technical capability in-house for the purpose of evaluating system options and system performance resulted in the Board of Managers approving this added position. Personal Services 5110 Salaries 365,518 5120 Health Benefits 40 875 S 130 Retirement Benefits 25 586 5140 Workman s Comp 2.000 . Total Personal Services 433 979 Supplies and Materials Funds are provided for the purchase of expendable office supplies and materials the printing of 9-1 1 public marketing material, maps and software Supplies and Materials 5210 Office Supplies 6 993 5220 Printing 46 000 5230 Postage 3 000 5244 MapsiMaterials 12.200 Total Supplies and Materials 68 193 Furniture and Equipment The District is entering its tenth year of operation, and is replacing older furniture which is no longer functional Approximately 40 percent of funds for furniture is allocated to the replacement of older furniture • Budget Overview • Page -6- Most of the District's new furniture and equipment is requued for two purposes 1 Support of the District's role m a joint research and development project with the State of Texas 9-1 1 Comrrussion to develop methodology for delivering wueless location data to a call-taker position. Specific items include a server and PC to support GIS data which will provide location by X Y coordinate 2 The District has relocated to larger facilities which include a second trauung room facility which m turn requues additional furniture and equipment. Both training rooms have the additional capability of serving as a back-up answering point for a call center m the event of loss of service The opening of a second training room will require call-taking consoles and audio-visual presentation equipment. Furniture & Equipment 5310 Furniture 13,255 5320 Equipment 36.602 Total Furniture and Equipment 49 857 • Services and Rentals The budget provides funds for AT&T Language Line Services which the District pays for all member agencies This cost is included m the line item Other Services as well as professional assistance in the completion of a video-based 9-1 1 call-taker training program. The District leases 9200 square feet in Water Gardens Place This new lease provides aten- year lease for rates lower than the previous location, the Bank One Building Travel funds provide for board and staff travel to key meetings of the National Emergency Number Association and related associations in addition to meetings with the Advisory Commission on State Emergency Communications The service fees for the actual 9-1 1 service are included in the 9-1 1 Service line item. Enhancements funded under the item 9-1-1 Enhancements include completing the deployment of TDD detectors for the improvement of service to the hearing impaued community adjustments to contingency-based re-routing equipment, and allowances for limited improvements at call centers which are expanding or relocating • Budget Overview . Page 7 Services & Rentals Contractual Services 5411 Legal 5412 Audit 5413 Equipment Maintenance 5414 Other Services 5415 Professional Development Total Contractual Services Lease Patents 5421 Office Lease 5422 Equipment Lease Total Lease Payments Travel and Auto 5431 Auto Allowance 5432 Travel Total Travel and Auto Memberships and Subscriptions 5441 Memberships 5442 Subscriptions Total Memberships and Subscnptions Utilities 5451 5452 5453 Total Utilities Insurance 5460 Office Telephone 9-1 1 Service 9-1 1 Enhancements Insurance Advertising 5471 Classified Advertising 5472 Public Education Total Advertising Total Services & Rentals 12 000 5 000 5 000 76 600 13.345 111 945 84,252 4.800 89 052 27 300 19,000 46 300 2 195 1.,440 3 635 10 000 1 997 051 142,550 2 149 601 5 000 300 30.000 30 300 2 435 833 • Budget Overview • Page -8- FUND BALANCE PROJECTION District fund balances are divided into three funds The first is a Contingency Reserve Fund, with a balance set to match two-months of expenditures The purpose of this fund is to meet major emergency or unanticipated expenditures which cannot be deferred until the next budget year The second fund, Reserve for System Enhancements provides funds for future enhancements or expansions to the capabilities of the Tarrant County 9-1 1 network. When offerings are determined by telephone service providers and options are selected it is likely this fund will be utilized over the next five years to incorporate additional capabilities to the system. The third fund is a requirement of the District's leasing agreement with the owners of Water Gardens Place and is established to offset the investor's loss in the event the District, by act of the legislator ceases to exist. It continues to earn interest for the Distnct, and will decrease by ten percent per year until the end of the lease term. • FUND BALANCE PROJECTION July 1 Fund Balance $1 464 637 Plus Fee and Interest Revenue Jul-Sept. 840 738 Less Expenditures Jul-Sept. 999 168 Projected Fund Balance September 30 1995 $1,306,207 Projected Surplus 1995-96 (28 462) Projected Fund Balance September 30 1996 $1,277 745 Contingency Reserve Fund 500 000 Reserve for Enhancements 529,270 Escrow Fund 248 475 • • TAF;RANT COUNTY 9-1-1 1995-96 BUDGET TOTAL 1995-96 BUDGET REVENUES Fee Revenue 2 912 400 PS ALI Revenue 12 000 Interest 50 000 Sale of Prom Items 5 , 000 2 979 400 EXPENDITURES Personal Services Salaries 365 518 Health Benefits 40 875 Retirement Benefits 25 586 Workmen s Comp 2,000 433 979 • Supplies and Materials Office Supplies 6 993 Printing 46 000 Postage 3 000 Maps & Materials 12,200 68 193 Furniture & Equipment Furniture 13 255 Equipment 36, 602 49 857 Services & Rentals Contractual Services Legal 12 000 Audit 5 000 Equipment Maintenance 5 000 Other Services 76 600 Professional Development 13,345 l i 1 945 • 1995-96 Budget Page 2 Lease Payments Office 84,252 Equipment 4.800 89 052 Travel & Auto Auto Allowance 27 300 Travel 19.000 46 300 Memberships & Subscriptions Memberships 2 195 Subscriptions 1.440 3 635 Utilities Office Telephone 10 000 9-1 1 Service 1 997 051 9-1 1 Enhancements 142.550 2 149 601 • Insurance Insurance 5 000 Advertisins Classified 300 Public Information 30.000 30 300 Total Services & Rentals 2 435 833 Contingencies 20 000 Total Expenditures 3 007 862 Operational Surplus (Deficit) (28 462) •