New Funding for Critical 911 Center Upgrades
Federal and Local Elected Officials Made Announcement

Baltimore, Md. (July 1, 2009) — U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski and Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (both D-MD) today joined Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith to announce new federal funding for critical upgrades to Baltimore County’s 911 Communications Center. The center, currently located in the county circuit court house, handles more than 900,000 calls for help each year. The existing center is 20 years old and is in need of additional space and upgraded technology to respond to the County's growing population needs.

Expand Communications Capabilities

The funding Senator Mikulski and Congressman Ruppersberger announced today will help Baltimore County modernize its 911 Communications Center and become faster and more efficient at responding to emergencies. The funding will buy new, digital equipment – upgraded phones, computers and radios – that will expand communications capabilities in emergency situations across the county and in the region. The total cost of the project is $14 million.

Better Tools Needed

“Every day, our 911 operators and dispatchers are there protecting people when they need protection most. I am committed to making sure they have the best tools available to do their jobs. They need modern communications equipment – lightweight phones and lightning-fast computers - to respond to emergency situations where a moment’s delay could mean the difference between life and death,” Senator Mikulski said. “This funding will help ensure the dedicated staff of Baltimore County’s 911 Call Center have the technology and resources they need to support their work of saving lives every day.” 

Well-Equipped 

“Our 911 operators and dispatchers are the first lines of defense against everything from traffic jams to terrorist attacks,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “It is critical that we give them the fastest and most accurate tools available to do their jobs saving lives every day. This money will enable Baltimore County to purchase new phones, radios and computer systems to ensure our 911 center is well-equipped to handle emergencies of all magnitudes.”

“In Baltimore County we are very proud of the consistently high level of emergency service we provide our citizens in all aspects of public safety - beginning with the initial 911 call. Our 911 Call Center is no longer simply a switchboard, but a state of the art communications hub. I sincerely thank Senator Mikulski, Congressman Ruppersberger and their partners in Washington for recognizing the importance of ensuring that our dedicated 911 Center staff have the technology and resources they need to do their jobs at peak efficiency,” said County Executive Jim Smith.

Part of 2009 and 2010 Appropriations Legislation

Senator Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Senate Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, and Congressman Ruppersberger, a member of the respective subcommittee in the House, worked together to secure $1.5 million in funding for this project in the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, signed into law on March 2009. 

Senator Mikulski has provided an additional $1.5 million in funding for this project in the fiscal year 2010 Senate CJS Appropriations Bill, which passed the Senate Appropriations Committee last week and now goes to the Senate floor for a vote. Congressman Ruppersberger successfully secured $500,000 for the project in the CJS Appropriations bill that passed the House last week. Any differences between the bills will be resolved in a conference committee. Senator Mikulski and Congressman Ruppersberger will fight to ensure funding for this project remains in the final bill that goes to the President to be signed into law.