PORT TOWNSEND — Land line and cell phone users in Jefferson County will join others in the state in paying an additional excise tax in 2010.
The three Jefferson County commissioners this week unanimously approved a 20-cent increase for land lines and cell phones and added the excise tax to interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol service lines, which are not now subject to the 70-cent-per-month tax.
Beginning Jan. 1, the tax would add $2.40 annually to the taxes for each land line and cell phone, and $8.40 annually for each VoIP line, for both residences and businesses.
State law required that counties approve the excise tax increase or face a penalty. The state will withhold matching funds, beginning Jan. 1, to emergency dispatch centers in any counties that do not pass the tax hike.
“If we don’t approve this, we will lose $218,000 in state funding,” said Jefferson 9-1-1 Director Janet Silvus on Monday.
The tax increase will fund Next Generation 9-1-1 improvements, resulting in a system that will incorporate text and video into emergency service.
The state will collect the tax and will purchase and install the equipment, as well as provide training.
“Many people are relying on text messaging and video to communicate, and the new system will support this,” Silvus said.
Port Ludlow Fire Chief Ed Wilkerson spoke in favor of the measure.
All counties in the state have passed the tax except Clark County, “which has other sources of revenue,” Silvus said.
Clallam County approved the tax Sept. 28 in a 2-1 vote, with Commissioner Mike Chapman dissenting, saying the tax increase was “not fair to the public.”
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.