budget being presented today. Ms. Zerwin then asked for questions. Member Yoo
questioned whether the ETSB budget goes before Finance and review by County Board.
Chair Schwarze said that Ms. Zerwin works very closely with County Finance. Ms.
Zerwin said the ETSB budget presentation is scheduled for November 12. She said that
as an agency of the County, the County Board approves the ETSB appropriation and
headcount but that there is no further obligation in the ordinance although we all work
together. Member Yoo then questioned the 3.5% COLA that was suggested by County
Board and whether there was any ordinance to follow that suggestion. Chair Schwarze
said there is not and that in his four years, typically ETSB follows the County Board
recommendation. Other members of the board echoed support of that practice.
Vice Chair Franz questioned the other $800,000 in the line item with the $1M for the
PSAP IGA. Vice Chair Franz said he thought the goal was to keep the IGA contribution
at $2M annually and said the $1.8M in the line was close to the $2M. Ms. Zerwin
discussed strategic planning and overlap of services within the PSAPs, technological
changes over the last number of years since systems were implemented and how they
could work today, and the efficient use of funds. There was further discussion of the
Prepared software versus the cost of RapidSOS and the budgetary costs included as a
placeholder in case the PSAPs decide this is the product they prefer, as well as the ETSB
process in following County Procurement procedures for a new product. Member Tillman
shared his opinion of Prepared and said it would enhance the efficiencies in the PSAPs
and quality of services that he was in agreement with budgeting the costs. Vice Chair
Franz thought that the cost, which had not been vetted by the Ad Hoc Finance Committee
or the Policy Advisory Committee, should be budgeted for FY26 and that more dollars
should be allocated to the PSAP IGA in FY25, directly. Chair Schwarze asked the PSAP
Directors if they had anything to add. Member Hernandez said they had not had an
opportunity to do a deep dive but that the translation service was amazing and reduced
time from the dispatch. Member Robb said there are services offered by RapidSOS at a
lower cost but that after reading the memorandum regarding Prepared, she said there were
many features for the field responders she was unaware of from the introductory
presentation provided which focused on the PSAPs.
Ms. Zerwin went back to the original question of the other $800,000 in the line item and
provided those contract details.
Chair Schwarze asked for any other questions, to which there were none. Chair Schwarze
asked for a consensus of 3.5% for COLA and the Members concurred. Chair Schwarze
said he did not recall a discussion of budgeting more than $1M and that that discussion
could be had at a later date. He asked for consensus on the $1M that was budgeted and
reflected in the memorandum. Vice Chair Franz said he did not agree. Member
Maranowicz said he respected the position of Vice Chair Franz, but that $2M was never
talked about in the Ad Hoc Finance Committee, it had always been $1M and had seemed
that everyone had been agreeable. He said in the eleventh hour, it would be very difficult
to ask for more. Member Maranowicz said that in years prior, it had always been
discussed as $1M. Vice Chair Franz said the first year was $2M. Member Maranowicz
said he believed that was to make up for the first year that the IGA had not been signed
and that there was a previous $1M added to make up for that. Vice Chair Franz said he
could be the outlier but that without setting aside funds for radios, they should help the
PSAPs as much as they can. Chair Schwarze asked if the $1M was in the IGA. Ms.
