The Associated Press • September 1, 2009

MADISON — A new 75-cent monthly fee for all cell phones, landlines or
other devices capable of calling 911 starts Tuesday in Wisconsin.

The fee was approved by the Legislature earlier this year to help
balance the state budget.

The money collected will go to county and local governments to help
support police and fire protection services. If phone companies
separately list the new fee on bills, it will appear as the “Police
and Fire Protection Fee.”

The $50 million a year raised originally was designed to help pay for
911 call centers.

But as the budget problem grew, the Legislature instead decided to
divert the money to local governments to reduce pressure on raising
property taxes.