In short, the county doesn't have enough money to staff their 911 call center 24/7 so calls get transferred to the state office who can't really respond swiftly. Locals have voted down funding measures, so the situation is mostly of their own choosing. The state is considering stepping in and in a sense forcing them to raise their taxes to fund the call center.
On one hand, if the state is filling in somewhat already, there's an argument for having the locals pay their own bills. On the other, it goes against the will of the people, even if they may be shooting themselves in the foot (hopefully not literally, because no one will send an ambulance their way if they do).
Should the state step in and force the tax increase?
Yes, there's a level of public safety that needs to be enforced. : | 12 (52.2%) | |
No, the local people have the right to make their own decisions.: | 1 (4.3%) | |
Seriously, I don't care.: | 1 (4.3%) | |
If you punch your neighbor in the face and no one responds to the 911 call, did you really commit a crime?: | 9 (39.1%) | |
Total: | 23 |
For my opinion? I'm all for local populations choosing their own tax rates, etc. The thing that bothers me most is that the state is answering the calls, meaning people elsewhere (i.e. me) are paying for it instead. In which case I say get off your butt and fund your own social services.
There's plenty we can do without if we choose too, but I'm not convinced emergency response is one of those things.
What say you?