In an effort to save Michigan money, lawmakers are considering consolidating the state's 166 911 call centers into just ten.
Lawmakers are under pressure to shrink the state's expenses. That's why they're looking at the possibility of closing the majority of local 911 call centers.
"We literally get about 380,000 calls a year serving 200,000 people," says Tom McIntyre, Saginaw County 911 director.
The Saginaw County 911 call center averages 1,000 calls a day. It had 38,000 calls in July. It's among the top five call centers in the state.
It wasn't always that way. The City of Saginaw, Saginaw County Sheriff, and the Michigan State Police used to have their own 911 centers, but Saginaw County consolidated.
Its director says that's enough. "I'm not arguing making forward-thinking decisions and moving ahead, but I don't want to make it too drastic so it doesn't work."
McIntyre says there may be less populated areas that could benefit from consolidation but that having only ten 911 centers in the state is too drastic. He says the 30 Saginaw County dispatchers are needed to properly cover the area.
Call center workers tell NBC25 even with today's technology like GPS, they still need to have people locally dispatching. For example, if there was an emergency near I-675 right now, someone from outside the area would probably dispatch emergency crews to use I-675, but those locally know that I-675 is closed for construction and would know where to reroute.
People NBC25 talked to say they don't want to see anyone lose there jobs, but they do understand budgets are tight.
Iesha Addison of Saginaw says, "If i was in trouble, I'd want the police to come. I see both sides of the situation."
McIntyre says, "People want to make sure they're going to get help. They don't care who they're calling in to. They really don't care what color uniform is getting to them as long as a police officer is getting to them."
At one time Midland County, Saginaw County, and Bay County were talking about possibly consolidating all of their 911 call centers and locating at Saginaw Valley State University, but that idea never became reality.
Call centers have various ways of funding themselves. Saginaw County uses a 911 surcharge, while Midland County is tax-based.
