CCAP Committee Highlights the Need for Sustainable Funding for Pennsylvania’s 911 System

Watch full hearing here

County leaders and emergency communications professionals from across Pennsylvania gathered Friday, October 30 for a policy hearing hosted by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania’s (CCAP) Emergency Management and Veterans Affairs Committee to discuss the growing financial pressures facing county-operated 911 centers and the need for sustainable funding to maintain reliable emergency communications services. 

Held at the Berks County Services Center, the hearing focused on CCAP’s 2026 legislative priority of increasing Pennsylvania’s monthly 911 surcharge from $1.95 to $2.20 and extending that rate through 2028. The proposed 25-cent increase would help counties keep pace with the growing costs of operating and maintaining 911 systems, supporting emergency communications professionals and upgrading essential technology.  

“The surcharge has not kept pace with inflation since it was first enacted in the 1990s. As a result, property taxpayers are being left to help close the funding gap and support a system that is essential to public safety,” said Dr. Kyle Kopko, CCAP Executive Director. 

In 2025, Pennsylvania collected nearly $384.5 million in 911 surcharge revenue, while total program expenditures reached approximately $496.6 million. The surcharge covered roughly 77 percent of those costs, leaving counties to rely on other revenue sources to support the system and maintain operations. 

Throughout the hearing, speakers discussed the primary cost drivers facing county 911 centers. “The three primary cost drivers for Pennsylvania’s 911 system are technology, call volume, and staffing. As each of these areas continues to evolve, counties are facing increasing costs to maintain reliable emergency communications and meet the expectations of the residents they serve,” said Christian Leinbach, Berks County Commissioner.  

Testifiers also emphasized that reliable emergency communications depend on trained professionals who provide critical information and support to first responders in the field.  

“At the end of the day, my job remains the same – to ensure that when someone dials 911 in Berks County, a trained and competent first responder professional will be able to help them while first responders in the field are sent to further address the situation,” said Brian Gottschall, Director of the Berks County Department of Emergency Services. 

The financial pressures facing 911 centers also have a direct impact on county budgets and local taxpayers. “Dedicated 911 revenue does not cover the cost of the system. Counties must use local resources, including property tax revenue, to make up the difference. These dollars are also needed to support other essential county responsibilities,” said Joe Kantz, Snyder County Commissioner and CCAP President.  

For emergency responders, the information provided by 911 telecommunicators can be critical to their safety and effectiveness when arriving at an emergency. 

“For first responders arriving on scene, highly trained telecommunicators are vital. Without them, not only are Pennsylvanians at risk, but so are the first responders who have dedicated their lives to serving the Commonwealth,” said Bill Finley Jr., Mercer County Commissioner and Fire Chief of the East End Volunteer Fire Company. 

CCAP is calling on state policymakers to recognize the essential role county-operated emergency communications systems play in public safety and the need for a funding structure that keeps pace with the costs of providing these services. 

“On behalf of all 67 counties in the Commonwealth, I urge the General Assembly to increase the monthly 911 surcharge from $1.95 to $2.20 and extend that rate through 2028,” Kantz said.