Long Beach to Begin 911 System Overhaul

After months of emotional debate over methods of financing a new 911 emergency operations center, the Long Beach City Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to begin the project with $4 million--and figure out later how to pay for the rest of the $27 million facility.

In November, the City Council asked voters to approve a 30-year general obligation bond. The measure failed to get the necessary two-thirds voter approval.

In recent weeks, the lawmakers considered asking for a utility tax increase, debated another bond issue and discussed budget savings by cutting such popular programs as the city’s municipal band and graffiti removal project.

In the end, however, the city budget office said it discovered that utility taxes were generating $1.3 million more than was anticipated.

The additional money, along with $2.7 million the council had already set aside, is enough to finance the first 19 months of the project. “I feel like I ran a marathon when a 100-yard dash would have done,” said City Councilman Jeffrey A. Kellogg.