News photo by Steve Schulwitz Carolyn Daoust, left, reviews a voter registration slip while her election co-worker Bob Amlotte waits for more voters. Voters in Alpena County approved a $3 surcharge for Alpena County 911 during a special election on Tuesday.

ALPENA — There may not have been many of them, but the voters who did cast ballots on Tuesday made sure Alpena County 911 continues to be funded.

During a special election on Tuesday, voters approved a renewal of the $3 surcharge on phonelines that helps cover the cost of 911 by a large margin.

The surcharge is a monthly $3 fee per phone line no matter if it is a cellphone, landline, or VOIP services. The surcharge is expected to generate between $900,000 to $970,000 annually a year and is included in people’s phone bills. The tax money will be used for operations, facility maintenance, utilities, equipment, employee benefits, and salaries.

The surcharge will expire in December 2032. Alpena County does not allocate any money from its general fund to help cover the cost of the local 911 service.

Although turnout was low in Alpena County, which was not a surprise because the surcharge request was the only item on the ballot, 3,138 voted to approve the renewal request, while only 659 voted against it.

Alpena County 911 Director Kim Elkie said she is happy that local voters understand the importance of 911 and the role its dispatchers play in helping people in the community when they are in a crisis.

“On behalf of Alpena County Central Dispatch, we are humbled by your trust and the 911 surcharge renewal,” she said. “Your support today ensures the continued strength and reliability of 911 services throughout our community for years to come. In the moments that matter most, this investment will help save lives and enhance the safety of our neighborhoods. Thank you, Alpena County!”

Elkie said she was confident that voters would see the value in supporting 911 because of the importance of it and the role it plays in helping people with minor emergencies and life-threatening ones.

The vote totals for the renewal proposal are only preliminary, but will be certified by the county’s board of canvassers which meets at 2:30 p.m. today.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @ss_alpenanews.com.