SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois residents seeking help through their local emergency 911 systems may be on their own if the budget fight between Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats in the Legislature continues. Without a budget in place, emergency call systems are no longer receiving revenue from a tax on cell phone users. Under state law, 911 fees for landline phones are paid to county-level systems. Fees for cell phones go into a statewide pool. But Rauner says without a budget in place the money cannot be distributed.
Connie Armstrong of the Woodford County 9-1-1 service says the situation is hurting every EMS center. She says the money the state is holding is used to pay bills, and they're not sure what they're going to do.
911 Call Systems face budget impasse struggles
