LISBON, Ohio - Columbiana County 911 is at risk of losing almost 30% of its state funding.

The 911 system gets funding from the state from a wireless fee. For every wireless phone in the county they get .40 cents. That fee is set to drop to .25 cents in October.

“It would be very strenuous and almost impossible to function in the manner that were accustomed too,” Roy Paparodis, Columbiana County Commissioner and Chairman of the 911 Program Review Committee said. 

With the way the current state budget is worded, the county would continue losing 5% of its funding every year for the next five years.

  • 2026: $233,000
  • 2027: $218,000
  • 2028: $207,000
  • 2029: $199,000
  • 2030: $193,000

The state money goes towards the networks and softwares for the five Public Safety Answering Point’s or PSAP’s in the county. Those are located in Lisbon, Salem, Columbiana, East Palestine and East Liverpool and are where dispatchers answer calls coming into 911 and rely emergency information to first responders. If the funding decreases the county might not be able to cover costs.

“A lot of it may fall back on those jurisdictions that have the 911 centers themselves,” Brian Rutledge, the Columbiana County 911 Coordinator said. 

Funding questions come while the county is trying to combine all PSAP’s under one roof. Legislation has been proposed to stop the decrease and actually increase the fees to .60 cents or higher.

“It would definitely help,” Rutledge said. ”Over the last five years as we’ve talked about consolidation the big deciding factor has been funding.”

Rutledge explained that a fee higher than .60 cents would be more ideal. Paparodis would like to see a fee closer to $1.25. 

The wireless fees will be finalized in the state budget.