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

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

Increase needed to offset taxpayer burdens, lawmakers say

Joe Sneve's avatar
Joe Sneve
Feb 28, 2024
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The Dakota Scout
The Dakota Scout
911 surcharge on South Dakotans' phone bills could jump by 60 percent
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(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.

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