Whitcom accepts proposal

Whitman County Commissioner Dean Kinzer told the board of commissioners Monday that Whitcom, the emergency 911 dispatch services agency, agreed to the county’s terms in the agreement to assist in paying for new equipment for 11 operator positions.

Kinzer said Whitcom has reserve funds to pay for the equipment and will put money back in the reserves as it receives payments from the different entities served by the agency.

Whitcom estimates the cost to replace the equipment will be in the range of $400,000.

The county has agreed to reimburse Whitcom for two-thirds of the cost up to a maximum of $267,000 with annual payments over five years.

The county’s source of funds to make the payments is revenue from the county’s one-tenth of one percent sales tax for emergency communications.

If the revenue from the tax is reduced by 35 percent or more from the amount generated in 2012, then the county will not be obligated under the agreement to make any more payments.

Whitcom officials balked at signing the agreement, but Kinzer said he explained that the agreement is meant to protect the county if the sales tax falls by more than 35 percent. He said in all likelihood, that won’t happen.