PARIS — The 13-year-old radio console at the Oxford County Regional Communications Center needs to be replaced soon, center director James Miclon advised at Tuesday night’s county budget hearing.
Parts for it are hard to find, he said, and the only person in New England who can service it took another job and doesn’t have much time to work on it.
The console is the “backbone” of the center, he said. It was purchased in August 1998 and it has run 24 hours a day, seven days a week since, he said.
“To lose this piece of equipment would be devastating to everyone in this room and everyone we represent,” Miclon said.
If it went out long-term, he said, dispatchers would have to use a police car radio system and would not be able to contact emergency personnel through their pagers, he said. The center has a desk computer that could do some of the console functions for a short time, he said.
He said his department has about $44,000, but the county would need another $143,000 to replace the console.
Others, including Rumford Fire Chief Robert Chase, agreed a new console was necessary but encouraged the communications center to start a capital fund to pay for it.
Miclon agreed. He said he has sought funding for more than a year, speaking to representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Maine Emergency Management Agency, Sen. Susan Collins’ office and other sources.
County Administrator Scott Cole explained that Miclon couldn’t take out a loan for the equipment because any long-term debt the county incurs must go to a countywide referendum.
Other department heads explained their requested budgets at the hearing.
Department estimates come to $5,885,946, up from the $5.6 million budget passed last year. Taxation would be offset by non-tax revenues, such as grants, of $1,717,760, but the county’s jail tax is $1,228,757, resulting in a projected 2012 tax levy of $5,396,943.
Commissioners will meet Wednesday morning to write up a recommended budget, which they will pass to the Budget Committee. The committee will meet to discuss the budget on Nov. 15.
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