911 surcharge on South Dakotans' phone bills could jump by 60 percent

Increase needed to offset taxpayer burdens, lawmakers say

(Courtesy of City of Yankton)

PIERRE — Raise monthly phone bills instead of county property taxes.

That's how lawmakers at the South Dakota Capitol are justifying a 60 percent increase in a 911 surcharge that telecommunications companies must collect from their customers.

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Since 2008, Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), also known as 911 Call Centers, throughout South Dakota have been supported with a monthly surcharge tacked onto phone bills. Today, the amount is $1.25.

But that's not enough to keep up with operational and capital costs, leaving cities and counties served by PSAPs to cover the difference, according to backers of a proposal to up the monthly surcharge to $2.