Tazewell County
Emergency Telephone System Board Funding

Enhanced 9-1-1 service in Tazewell County is funded by a 9-1-1 surcharge fee on all wireline telephone lines in Tazewell County, both home and business.  The surcharge fee was set by referendum in November of 1988 at $0.80 a month.  Unlike other surcharges or taxes, the Tazewell County Emergency Telephone System Board has not requested nor received a hike in this surcharge in over 20 years.

The surcharge is collected by your local telephone company and remitted to the Tazewell County Emergency Telephone System Board monthly.  These funds are used to maintain and upgrade our 9-1-1 related equipment.

A wireless 9-1-1 surcharge is also assessed to all cell phone customers.  The fee is set by the Wireless Emergency Telephone Saftey Act at $0.75 per month.  Of that $0.75, the Tazewell County Emergency Telephone System Board receives $0.49.  The fund is collected by the State of Illinois, namely the Illinois Commerce Commission, and distributed monthly to the Tazewell County Emergency Telephone System Board.  The remaining $0.26 is retained by the State for administration and placement into the wireless carrier reimbursement fund.