During their meeting Monday afternoon, the Marshall County Council approved a change in the 2025 Salary Ordinance that will move the salaries of two full-time turnkey/dispatchers from the Special LIT to the 911 Fund.
Sheriff Matt Hassel told members, “Two years ago, the 911 Fund went down to zero. At that time, that fund was supporting nine employees. We pulled four employees out and put them into the LIT Fund, and that helped this fund start building itself back up.” Hassel said the budget balance has grown to $298,832 at the end of 2024. The income in 2024 was $588,500, giving them a total of $887,332. This year, the County Council budgeted them to spend $328,890, leaving a substantial balance.
The Sheriff submits an annual report to the State 911 Board and is concerned that if the Board sees such a surplus in the fund, it will lower the county's funding.
Sheriff Hassel proposed moving two turnkey/dispatchers out of the Special LIT Fund and into the county’s 911 Fund. He said salary and benefits would cost the fund an additional $158,438 and keep it out of the negative side at the end of the year.
Council President Tim Harman calculated a balance of over $400,000 with the two employees being paid out of the 911 Fund. He said the county may need to get more aggressive and not show the state a $400,000 balance at the end of 2025.
The sheriff said he could move the $90,000 911 equipment lease back into the 911 Fund to reduce it even further.
Hassel told Council members that the state 911 Board hadn’t raised the monthly fees on landlines and cell phones since long before he was sheriff. He said the county receives $42,281 each month.
The County Council unanimously approved the sheriff’s request to move two employees out of the county’s Special LIT and put them back into the 911 Fund.
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