SKANEATELES - A new radio system for emergency responders has the village of Skaneateles' fire, police and ambulance services wondering how they will pay for the new equipment, which could cost more than $100,000.
During Monday's village board of trustees meeting, Police Chief Lloyd Perkins said that Onondaga County originally purchased the new equipment with the understanding the state would increase a phone surcharge in order to cover the local departments' equipment costs.
With Gov. David Paterson vetoing the proposal, the county has now asked the departments to pick up the tab.
“This is a very expensive issue and it is during tough economic times,” Perkins said. “Before we get any new equipment, we need to get the ground plan and figure out the costs.”
Because the Federal Communications Commission is limiting the number of wide-band frequencies that local departments can use, many will have to switch to narrow-band frequencies. In order to make the switch, departments will need new narrow-band portable radios, which cost $3,200, and new mobile radios, which cost $4,500.
With the village's emergency services needing at least 10 mobile radios, the cost for that equipment alone will be significant, Perkins said.
The new equipment will allow all the county's departments to communicate with each other and with Cayuga County, Perkins said.
Even though the smaller departments have been asked to pay, Perkins said the county has told the Syracuse Police Department that they will not have to pay for their equipment because they turned a portion of their high-frequency bands over to the county for the FCC.
The departments in Skaneateles do not have any wide-band frequencies to donate, Perkins said.
While the departments and the county are still in negotiations, Perkins said the trustees could possibly choose not to buy the equipment when the issue is officially brought to their attention.
“The equipment has already been delivered and the transmitters and towers are already installed,” Perkins said. “If none of (the local departments) choose to buy the equipment and that equipment just sits in a warehouse, then the system doesn't work.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
With Gov. David Paterson vetoing the proposal, the county has now asked the departments to pick up the tab.
“This is a very expensive issue and it is during tough economic times,” Perkins said. “Before we get any new equipment, we need to get the ground plan and figure out the costs.”
Because the Federal Communications Commission is limiting the number of wide-band frequencies that local departments can use, many will have to switch to narrow-band frequencies. In order to make the switch, departments will need new narrow-band portable radios, which cost $3,200, and new mobile radios, which cost $4,500.
With the village's emergency services needing at least 10 mobile radios, the cost for that equipment alone will be significant, Perkins said.
The new equipment will allow all the county's departments to communicate with each other and with Cayuga County, Perkins said.
Even though the smaller departments have been asked to pay, Perkins said the county has told the Syracuse Police Department that they will not have to pay for their equipment because they turned a portion of their high-frequency bands over to the county for the FCC.
The departments in Skaneateles do not have any wide-band frequencies to donate, Perkins said.
While the departments and the county are still in negotiations, Perkins said the trustees could possibly choose not to buy the equipment when the issue is officially brought to their attention.
“The equipment has already been delivered and the transmitters and towers are already installed,” Perkins said. “If none of (the local departments) choose to buy the equipment and that equipment just sits in a warehouse, then the system doesn't work.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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