PRESS RELEASE: 9-1-1 Fee Audits– Correcting the Record

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2021

Senator Cheryl C. Kagan
District 17 (Rockville & Gaithersburg)
Chair, Next Generation 9-1-1 Commission
Cheryl.Kagan@senate.state.md.us (preferred)
301/858-3134

 

CORRECTING THE RECORD ON 9-1-1 AUDITS

Sen. Cheryl Kagan sent a response to Comptroller Peter Franchot’s May 13th letter. Please read below to learn more.


May 14, 2021
 
Hon. Peter Franchot
Comptroller of Maryland
301 West Preston Street
Baltimore, MD 21201 
 
Comptroller Franchot:
 
I am surprised and offended by your dismissive response to my letter regarding your failure to communicate the status of audits for 9-1-1 funding. I am writing to correct the inaccurate and misleading portions of your reply. 
 
In my role as Chair of the Next Generation 9-1-1 Commission, I wrote a letter to you out of frustration and a need for guidance from your office. After enactment of Carl Henn’s Law in 2019, the 9-1-1 Board and our 24 counties saw a significant (and much-needed!) increase in revenue. Because of the multi-faceted nature of the fee adjustments, there is a probability that at least some of the 100+ telecommunications companies are unintentionally assessing and remitting the incorrect amount. Our counties desperately need these funds to support their transition to Next Generation 9-1-1. Without proper understanding of any errors and the timetable for addressing them, the Commission cannot consider further legislative actions.
 
We do not need or expect a formal report at this time, nor do we want any confidential taxpayer information as you stated. Rather, a simple update or indication of your findings would be invaluable as we launch our 4th and final year. Your formal report on December 1st will be too late to guide the Commission’s work. 
 
In closing, let me address your absurd accusation that I was in any way disrespecting our State employees. As the Comptroller, the responsibility to set the agenda and ensure follow-through rests with you! I will, therefore, continue to hold you accountable for the delivery of audit results. Reporters, legislators, and voters will see through your attempts to change the subject away from saving lives to your staff’s unrelated projects in your response.
 
Sincerely,
 
Cheryl Kagan
 
Cheryl C. Kagan
Chair, Next Generation 9-1-1 Commission
Maryland State Senate
 
PS: In your five-page screed, you falsely characterized my letter as being a “campaign press release.” I assure you that it most definitely was not. While your prism may be through a campaign lens, mine is on saving lives. I pay for Constant Contact mailing service through my campaign funds. As you surely know, this requires the use of an authority line– even on legislative emails.

cc: Hon. Bill C. Ferguson, Senate President
Hon. Adrienne A. Jones, Speaker of the House of Delegates
Governor Larry Hogan
Attorney General Brian E. Frosh
Vice Chair Steve Souder, Next Generation 9-1-1 Commission
Members of the NG911 Commission
Executive Director Victoria Gruber, Department of Legislative Services
Gregory Hook, Legislative Auditor, Office of Legislative Audits
Michael Powell, Office of Program Evaluation & Government Accountability