State mandated consolidation of 911 dispatch centers

The push for statewide consolidation of 911 emergency systems has been widely supported by officials, including those in Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office, but not everyone is on board. In Madison County, local leaders, especially fire and police chiefs, are raising concerns about the impact of consolidating 16 local 911 centers into just eight under a new state-mandated system.

They argue that the move could compromise public safety and lead to higher costs for local departments. The Illinois Public Act 099-0006, which became effective on January 1, 2016, tasked the Office of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator with creating a uniform 911 system across the state—except for Chicago, which is exempt.

As part of this initiative, counties with populations over 250,000 were required to submit plans to reduce their number of PSAPs by half. Catherine Kelly, a spokesperson for the governor’s office, previously stated that consolidation would improve efficiency and save taxpayer money while enhancing public safety.

However, local leaders in Madison County are skeptical. The county has long maintained its own 911 system, funded in part by a 67-cent phone surcharge approved by voters in 1989. They’ve also invested in Next Generation 911 technology, an IP-based system that allows for better communication through voice, text, video, and data sharing.

“We have a very advanced system right now,” said East Alton Mayor Joe Silkwood. “Calls are handled efficiently and effectively.”

But the financial implications are causing concern. Consolidation could mean job losses for the 225 dispatchers currently employed across the county’s 16 PSAPs. Wood River Police Chief Otis Steward explained that dispatchers do more than just send officers—they monitor jail inmates, enter warrants, and manage other critical tasks.

“Dispatching is only part of what they do,” he said. “If you want to outsource it, that’s fine, but we’re keeping our own.”

With dispatchers paid by the city or department that employs them, and equipment funded by the 911 surcharge, the cost of maintaining separate dispatch operations after consolidation remains unclear. If multiple departments refuse to hand over their dispatch functions, the total cost could rise significantly.

Madison County submitted a waiver request to delay consolidation until after July 1, 2017, asking for an additional year. The state will review the request within 90 days. Meanwhile, the Emergency Telephone System Board plans to commission an independent study to evaluate the feasibility of different consolidation models, including the impact on labor contracts, dispatch center improvements, and overall costs.