911 System Costs Outpacing State Surcharge
Summary
Delaware County replaced its 30-year-old analog radio system with a P25 digital network that's fully operational as of January. The old system had security holes people exploited from cheap Amazon radios, plus dead zones that endangered officers. The new system finished about $3 million under its roughly $35 million budget and should last 25+ years.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 3
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Jul 14, 2026.
Impact analysis
About $35 million total, with over $6 million covered by state grants — funded largely through bonding.
Every resident who calls 911, plus all 65 fire departments and 42 police departments in the county.
Property taxpayers, who absorb the shortfall between surcharge revenue and dispatch costs.
Mentions & discussions (3)
County Council - Jul 14, 2026
Dispatch software renewals keep climbing 7.5-10% a year while the state's $1.97-per-line 911 surcharge hasn't kept up — meaning property taxes plug the gap. Council wants the public to understand that connection and plans renewed state advocacy.
County Council - Mar 18, 2026
Delaware County replaced its 30-year-old analog radio system with a P25 digital network that's fully operational as of January. The old system had security holes people exploited from cheap Amazon radios, plus dead zones that endangered officers. The new system finished about $3 million under its roughly $35 million budget and should last 25+ years.
County Council - Mar 3, 2026
The county is renewing its 911 phone system support with Motorola at a flat price and buying call-protocol software, while accepting a $55,000 state grant to offset GIS data costs. It all keeps the 911 center running on modern infrastructure.
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
The weekly brief for Delaware County, Pennsylvania
What the council decided, in plain English — one email a week.
Free. Unsubscribe with one click any time. We never sell your email.