Snohomish County voters will be asked in November to consider a 1/10th of 1 percent sales tax increase to replace Snohomish County’s failing, 20-year old emergency 911 radio system.
The Snohomish County Council voted unanimously last week to place the measure on the ballot. If approved, the sales tax would raise the money needed –estimated at $70 million to $75 million — to replace the current outdated system now used by the Snohomish County Emergency Radio System (SERS).
In service since the mid-1990s, the system operates 24/7, carrying an average 19,000 transmissions each day. It depends on roughly 5,000 portable and mobile analog Motorola radios, many of which were manufactured before the turn of the century. When they break down — which is happening with increasing frequency — parts are difficult to find. And it will soon become impossible, as Motorola has announced that they will completely stop making parts and supporting the equipment in 2020.