East Baton Rouge Proposes 60% Increase in 911 Fees: What Are We Already Paying For?-

October 9, 2026

Most of us probably don't give much thought to the 911 fee on our monthly phone bill. It's just another small charge buried among the taxes and fees. But East Baton Rouge Parish's 911 Communications District is proposing to increase that charge by 60%, from $1.25 to $2 per month for each wireless line.

The proposed increase would help fund emergency communications upgrades, a backup 911 call center, and training facilities. That raises a reasonable question: Aren't we already paying for emergency services through our property taxes?

The answer is yes, in part. But there's an important distinction between funding emergency responders and funding the communications system that connects us to them.

How Much Would the Increase Cost?

The proposed increase amounts to 75 cents per month for each wireless phone line.

For a family with four wireless lines, that's an additional $36 annually.

Individually, the increase may not seem particularly significant. But it is still a 60% increase in an existing fee, and residents deserve to understand how that money is being used.

Aren't We Already Paying for 911 Through Property Taxes?

Here's where things get interesting.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Communications District is primarily funded through 911 charges collected on telephone service, not through a dedicated property-tax millage.

The district is a separate political subdivision established in 1986. Its job is to maintain and operate the parishwide 911 emergency communications system. According to its adopted 2026 budget, the district expects approximately $8.26 million in total revenue, broken down as follows:

• $8,063,905 from enhanced 911 service charges.

• $200,000 from interest earned on deposits.

In other words, approximately 98% of the district's budgeted revenue comes from 911 service charges. Those charges are collected through telephone providers, including wireless and landline services. Prepaid wireless services are also subject to a separate statutory 911 charge.

So, no, the communications district isn't simply receiving a portion of your property taxes to operate the 911 call center. But that doesn't mean your property taxes aren't already supporting emergency services.

What Do Our Property Taxes Pay For?

When you look at your East Baton Rouge property tax bill, you're paying various millages that support public services. Depending on where your property is located, those taxes can help fund law enforcement, fire protection and other government functions. For example, property taxes help support the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, which remains the primary law-enforcement agency serving St. George. Fire protection also has its own funding structure, which can include dedicated taxes or other revenue sources depending on the fire district. Emergency medical services likewise have separate funding arrangements.

The important distinction is that these are not all the same service.

Your property taxes may help pay for the deputies, firefighters and emergency responders who show up when you call 911. The 911 surcharge on your phone bill primarily supports the communications infrastructure that receives your call, identifies your location and connects you to the appropriate emergency service. That includes dispatch technology, communications equipment, personnel, system maintenance and related infrastructure.

So we're paying for different pieces of the emergency response system through different revenue sources.

And that's precisely why I think it's important to understand how these fees work.

What Would the Additional Money Pay For?

According to the Communications District, the proposed increase would help support several improvements. One is a backup 911 call center located in a former shopping mall off Florida Boulevard. The primary 911 center operates on Harding Boulevard. The backup facility is designed to operate alongside the main center or take over if the primary location becomes unavailable.

That's particularly important in Louisiana, where hurricanes, flooding, power outages and other emergencies can disrupt critical infrastructure. The district is also working toward next-generation 911 technology capable of handling additional forms of communication, including text messages, photographs and video. Those capabilities could provide emergency responders with better information before they arrive at a scene.

The district has also cited training facilities and communications infrastructure as uses for the funding. These are legitimate public-safety considerations.

But I'd still like to see more detailed information about the proposed expenditures.

A Few Questions Worth Asking

I'm certainly not opposed to maintaining a reliable 911 system. If I ever need to call for an ambulance, a fire truck or law enforcement, I want that call answered immediately and routed to the right people. And I suspect most residents feel the same way.

But before increasing a fee by 60%, I think there are a few reasonable questions:

1. How much additional revenue will the increase generate annually?

2. What specific improvements will that money fund, and what are their estimated costs?

3. How much of the existing 911 budget goes toward operations versus new equipment and infrastructure?

4. Are the proposed improvements one-time capital expenses or ongoing operational costs?

5. What financial projections justify increasing the fee to the full $2 allowed under state law?

The district's last wireless fee increase was in 2023, when it went from 85 cents to $1.25. Before that, the fee had remained unchanged since 2006. That history is worth considering, too. Communications technology has changed dramatically over the past two decades. But so has the cost of nearly everything else residents are being asked to pay for.

Residents Have an Opportunity to Weigh In

The proposed increase has not yet been approved. A public hearing is scheduled for October 21, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office headquarters. Residents will have an opportunity to learn more about the proposal and express their opinions before the district makes its decision.

You can also review information about the district, including its financial reports and adopted budget, at EBR911.org.

What This Means for St. George

One of the things we're learning as St. George develops its own municipal government is that not every public service operates within the same boundaries or uses the same funding system. St. George has its own municipal responsibilities, but many important services remain part of larger parishwide or regional systems.

911 communications is one of them.

And while an additional 75 cents a month may not change anyone's household budget dramatically, it's another example of why residents should pay attention to how government services are funded. I'm not suggesting we shouldn't invest in emergency communications.

I'm suggesting we should understand what we're already paying, what we're being asked to pay next, and exactly what we're getting in return. A fee increase NOW probably won't be met with the same enthusiasm as say, the Library tax. Personally, when I see 50-60% hikes on anything, I tend to look at years of mismanagement rather than increased "costs" of doing business. That is why we need transparency in the numbers. Tech is supposed to make things more efficient and cost LESS over time, not more.

And that's a fair question whether we're talking about 75 cents a month or millions of dollars in public spending.

Good morning, St. George.

David Madaffari is a Licensed Real Estate Broker and founder of Grassroots Real Estate Group with over 20 years of experience serving St. George and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He helps buyers, sellers, and renters navigate the market with friendly, personal, and honest service.

Grassroots Real Estate Group · 225-772-3283

Equal Housing Opportunity. David Madaffari, Licensed Real Estate Broker, License #268528, regulated by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission. This article is general information only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Confirm your specific numbers and situation with your title company, tax advisor, or lender.