Countywide : Cities Give OK to New Emergency Network

Several cities have approved a new funding plan for an $80-million county emergency communications system despite complaints that the proposal shifts too great a financial burden on municipalities.

The 800-megahertz Motorola system, which would link all police, fire and public works agencies in the county on one network, would replace the existing 400-megahertz system that law enforcement officials say is obsolete.

Cities and the county have been developing the new network for years and had planned to split the costs. But after the Dec. 6, 1994 bankruptcy, the county said it could not afford to pay its share and demanded that cities pick up more of the tab.

The Board of Supervisors last month approved a funding plan that calls on the county to cover 39% of the costs, with cities paying the remainder. Originally, the county was supposed to pay 45% of the costs.

Many cities have raised concerns about the funding shift, noting that municipalities also lost money in the financial crisis. But so far, none has formally rejected the plan. Costa Mesa, San Clemente and Orange are among the cities that have already approved the new arrangement.