Mike Albert, chairman of the Public Service Commission of West Virginia, updated the Senate on the total amount of revenue which was generated through the state’s E911 system and distributed throughout West Virginia’s counties, 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 17.
According to Albert, E911’s revenue is distributed to three areas with the cell tower fund receiving $1 million, the State Police collecting $.10 per line and the West Virginia Division of Homeland and Emergency Management receiving 5 percent of the total collections.
Albert explained that the remainder of the revenue is distributed to all 55 counties based on population size but assured the committee that a special formula is used to ensure that each county is receiving an adequate amount of money. From 2007-2018, the state’s counties have received a total of $424,082,509 from the E911 system.
“That is a significant amount of money that all the counties greatly protect,” Albert said.
The current projected distribution for E911 fees in fiscal year 2020 is set at $41,374,888 according to the chairman.
Regarding the commission’s budget, Albert requested $22,943,328 for a base budget which is the same total that was requested for fiscal year 2019.
Albert explained that the commission’s base budget has been identical since 2013 and would be divided into three categories with utilities receiving $19,634,848, pipeline safety receiving $385,164 and the motor carrier receiving $2, 943,328.
Jackie Roberts, a consumer advocate with the Consumer Advocate Division, requested a total of $1,340,000 for the division’s fiscal year 2020 budget. Roberts explained that the division’s base budget has been the same amount for a number of years.
The committee also discussed Senate Bill 1, which would increase access to career education and workforce training, which was unanimously sent to the full Senate.
The Senate Finance Committee is adjourned until 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17.
