TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey collects over $125 million a year through a monthly $0.90 charge on every phone line to fund its 9-1-1 emergency system — but most of that money never reaches the call centers it was intended to support.
Where is all the money going? Well, to Governor Phil Murphy’s state budget, of course.
According to public data shared by watchdog group Wake Up NJ, only a fraction of the revenue — just 14% in 2022 — was actually allocated to public safety answering points (PSAPs), which handle emergency calls across the state. The rest, roughly $100–110 million annually, is funneled into the state’s general fund to cover other expenses, including the New Jersey State Police.
Since the fee was introduced in 2004, New Jersey has collected approximately $1.4 billion. Advocates and county officials say the widespread diversion of funds has stalled modernization efforts, including upgrades to Next Generation 9-1-1 systems, which allow for text messaging, video calls, and enhanced location tracking during emergencies.
The state’s 263 PSAPs cost around $167.5 million a year to operate, but counties are left to cover most of the cost through property taxes, despite the surcharge meant to fund the service.
“This amounts to double taxation,” Wake Up NJ said in a statement.
Key points
- NJ collects ~$125 million annually through a 9-1-1 fee but spends only 14% of it on emergency call centers.
- The rest of the money is diverted to state expenses, including the State Police.
- Counties are forced to cover over $125 million in annual 9-1-1 operations through local taxes.
Counties like Hunterdon and Cumberland are particularly affected. Hunterdon has identified $4.2 million in needed upgrades, while Cumberland faces a $40 million shortfall to bring its 9-1-1 infrastructure up to modern standards.
A proposal to raise the fee to $0.99 per month could increase revenue to $137.5 million by next year, but without legislative changes requiring the money be used for PSAPs, local officials say the system will remain underfunded.
The ongoing issue has raised concerns about the safety and effectiveness of New Jersey’s emergency response system, as outdated technology continues to delay critical upgrades across the state.
Despite collecting over a billion dollars, New Jersey has failed to fund its 9-1-1 system, leaving counties to fill the gap as public safety lags behind.