Allen Says No to Cell Phone Consolidation Fee

HOLLAND PATENT, Aprilo 5, 2010 -- 115th Assembly candidate and former Oneida County Clerk Richard Allen is opposed to the new fee proposed by Oneida County for 911 Emergency Call Center consolidation.

Allen supports consolidation as a cost saving measure that can be achieved through economies of scale and efficient utilization of staffing rather than by slamming the tax payer with a new fee.

Allen is concerned that the currently proposed increase to cell phone bills of 30 cents to Oneida County resident is only increasing the burden rather than reducing it. Consolidation should come from greater efficiencies and at a reduced cost to taxpayers. Allen pointed out that, "if New Hartford can make hard choices and tighten its belt the county should also. There is no need to pass on the fee to all citizens when it can be paid for by the smarter use of the vast tax monies and fees the county already collects.”

New Hartford, the City of Utica and Oneida County all currently operate separate law enforcement and 911 dispatch call centers and Allen supports consolidation of these services. Allen pointed out that consolidation should reduce the burden on taxpayers rather than increase it. “The reason to consolidate services is to save money and I applaud the efforts that have be taken so far but I will not support any new taxes or fees.”