Georgia lawmakers face funding questions after voters approve 911 system upgrades

Georgians overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment last Tuesday that directs funding upgrades to the state’s 911 system.

The third amendment on the ballot passed with 78% of the vote, but GPB News reports that now it is time to determine how to pay for the upgrades.

Todd Edwards, the director of governmental affairs with the Association of County Commissioners, told GPB News that state lawmakers will need to decide how to fund the upgrades.

“And there’s differences of opinion on how to fund it,” he said. 

Some suggestions have been to increase the current 911 service fee at $1.50 per month or implement a separate, state-imposed fee that would go into a special trust fund voters approved during the election. 

However, no solution has passed the Georgia General Assembly.

“We’ll have to see what’s introduced and continue working with them to optimize to the fullest extent the highest, best use of the current 911 fees.”

The upgrades would transition the current, landline-based system to one that uses the internet, which is called Next Generation 911. The new technology allows users to send photos, videos and text messages to 911 operators.

The next state legislative session begins Jan. 11, 2027, and Georgians will most likely not see any decisions made regarding the 911 system before then.