The "Next Generation 911" system would allow for people to text to 911 among many other new improvements, which would be required for all 88 counties in the state to implement if this passes.

"The location information is better," Peggy Clark, 911 Coordinator of Columbiana County said, "It pinpoints the caller's location better, and it does allow for people to have the ability to text t 911 which is incredibly important to have that capability."

Under House Bill 445, rather than only charging 25 cents for all wireless lines, the state would charge a quarter for all phone lines, but 911 coordinators in the Valley said that's still not enough to cover the hefty cost of this technology.

That's because half of the money collected would fund the new statewide 911 network costing billions, so counties would still be getting the same amount of funding they've been for years, except now they need to meet the demands of the new technology so they can be a part of this network, putting a major burden on the counties.

"We won't be getting enough funding to meet these mandates, to meet what is necessary, and we all agree it is necessary," Maggi McGee, 911 Coordinator of Mahoning County said, "But we don't want it to have to fall back on the county to have to pick up that tab."

Clark and McGee said the counties get around $200,000 through funding from the state, but the cost of this new technology is millions.

"What we're saying is, work with us so we get a comparable amount so we can do this and it doesn't fall back on having to come back to our counties and try to drudge up that funding somehow."

Mahoning and Columbiana counties have upgraded their systems, so the technology is there, but it costs millions to put it to use, conduct training and become part of the statewide core network.

Clark said if the state doesn't raise the phone line fees, the funds may have to come out of places such as local sales or property taxes.