LITTLE BOSTON — The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe is asking for representation on the policy board of Kitsap County Central Communications, or CenCom, after its annual rate for 911 service jumped from $13,550 to $50,000 since 2009, a 270 percent increase.
S’Klallam Tribe Chairman Jeromy Sullivan asked CenCom director Richard Kirton and policy board members to renegotiate the Tribe’s contract. The Tribe paid $14,787 in 2010 but, according to Kirton, threatened to not pay the increased rate in 2011.
Sullivan said Tuesday that Port Gamble S’Klallam has paid its 2011 bill — $17,285, based on previous annual increases.
“We thought it was unfair people said we weren’t paying our share,” Sullivan said. “We just wanted justification on why our price went from $15,000 in 2010 to $50,000.”
In 2009, the CenCom executive committee brought to the advisory board a more “equitable” payment formula, according to Kirton. Before 2009, the model formula CenCom charged its agencies was confusing, according to Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue Commissioner Bob Muhleman, a CenCom board member. The model was based on a mathematical formula of property value, evaluations, population size and number of calls.
Several agencies, districts and organizations are included in CenCom’s service: Bainbridge, Bremerton, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Port Orchard, Poulsbo and Suquamish police and fire; Central, North and South Kitsap fire and rescue; Kitsap County Sheriff; Kitsap County; Bainbridge Ambulance; Kitsap Humane Society; and the U.S. Navy.
To even out the rate so larger districts didn’t subsidize smaller districts, the new formula is a minimum $50,000 fee to each agency, plus individual pay-per-call fee. The average pay-per-call for an agency in Kitsap County is $13. The statewide average is $65 per call, according to Kirton. So far only Port Gamble S’Klallam’s rate’s have been raised, as all other agencies already paid at least $50,000 a year, he said.
Nearly 70 percent of CenCom’s budget also comes from 911 taxes — a small amount from sales tax and about $8 per individual per year in telephone service tax.
Poulsbo Police paid $66,194 in 2009, according to Mayor Becky Erickson, who also expressed concern that the city’s rate was increasing disproportionately. Last year, CenCom received 13,836 911 calls from Poulsbo; this year, Poulsbo Police will pay $90,000.
Port Gamble S’Klallam is being asked to pay $50,000. There were 3,105 911 calls from Port Gamble S’Klallam in 2010 and 2,729 in 2009.
“We should just pay our fair share and not more than our fair share,” said Erickson, who is also on the policy board. She added that during and since the restructure, the amount of calls CenCom received “remained relatively constant.”
However, Kirton said Poulsbo’s increase is actually one bill for two services previously billed separately — 911 service and participation in the police information management system. CenCom brought both services together in one bill to make payments easier, according to Kirton.
Meanwhile, Sullivan said the larger issue for him is representation. He said the Tribe is now discussing a solution with CenCom, but he feels it would not be in this position if Port Gamble S’Klallam was represented on the policy board. The Suquamish Tribe is the only other agency without board representation.
Fire and police chiefs are welcome to participate in a separate advisory board. However, Kirton said a Port Gamble S’Klallam representative had not been present in any meeting in 2009 or 2010.
“We’ve wanted their participation, for everyone to come in and explain their concerns,” Muhleman said of Port Gamble S’Klallam. “Now we’re in the 11th hour, [and] all of a sudden it’s a crisis.”
Sullivan said he isn’t sure why no one participated in advisory board meetings, but it is something that will be corrected for future meetings.
“We’re willing to do whatever it takes to work this out. We feel like our voice was heard at the last meeting,” Sullivan said. “Its important to our membership to feel safe.”
Both Kirton and Sullivan said they are committed to resolving the issue, and Kirton said service will not be cut.
