Illinois Budget Impasse Affecting Emergency Call Systems

The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprise newspapers reports that without a budget in place, emergency call systems are no longer receiving revenue from a tax on cell phone users.

Under state law, 911 fees for landline phones are paid to county-level systems. Fees for cell phones go into a statewide pool. But Rauner says without a budget in place the money cannot be distributed.

Connie Armstrong of the Woodford County 911 service says the situation is hurting every 911 center. He notes the money the state is holding is used to pay bills, adding "we don't know what we're going to do."

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