The V.I. government received more than $350,000 between April and September 2000 through a $1 emergency services surcharge on phone bills, according to the Office of Management and Budget.
So far in fiscal year 2001, some $60,000 has been collected. The $1 charge was enacted by the Senate in November 1999 to purchase equipment and maintain emergency equipment, including 911 service.
Of the $425,012 collected so far through the surcharge, $68,249 was billed for the 911 line service and infrastructure support, said OMB Director Ira Mills. The $356,763 balance was distributed to the Health Department, Police Department and Fire Services.
Police Commissioner Franz Christian said the bulk of the money received by his department went to pay "accumulated line charges of nearly two years to ensure the continued operation of the 911 system." The release from Government House did not give any details on those accumulated charges.
Last March, Gov. Charles Turnbull sent the Legislature proposed amendments to the surcharge law that would have allowed the V.I. Telephone Corp. to deduct the administrative costs of collecting the surcharge for the government. A few days later, however, Vitelco's parent company – Innovative Communication Corp. – said Vitelco would absorb the costs instead.
Turnbull’s proposal would have allowed Vitelco to deduct $10,500 in start-up costs to begin 911 operating services. Once the service was on line, Vitelco would have been able to deduct $1,000 a month for administering the collection and disbursement of the surcharge funds. Soon after news of the governor's action, ICC announced that Vitelco would absorb all costs associated with collecting the surcharge.
The law calls for the telephone company to collect the $1 per month on each phone bill and turn the money over to the government within 15 days for deposit into the Emergency Services Special Fund. According to Government House, the commissioner of Finance is to place the surcharge proceeds into the fund for use by public safety agencies.
According to OMB, the monthly amount collected from the surcharge is about $60,000.
The Police Department will use a portion of its funds to purchase back-up equipment for the 911 system. To date, the Health Department has used $15,000 for supplies and repairs, including repairing the St. John ambulance boat. Fire Services has spent $60,000 on equipment, supplies and repairs.
