The Snohomish County Emergency Radio System (commonly known as SERS) is a vital part of the 9-1-1 system and police and fire services in Snohomish County. The system currently maintained by SERS is used by all First Responder agencies in the County to hear your call connecting 9-1-1 telephone system to them and you,

 

Your 9-1-1 call is recognized by your telephone system and specially routed to the Public Safety Answering Point--which in Snohomish County is the Snohomish County 9-1-1 Agency. After determining some basic information like your location and type of services you need, the dispatchers at Snohomish County 9-1-1 turn to the SERS system to connect with the proper First Responders--even at times while they are still talking to you.

 

What is Proposition Number One, all about. The emergency radio system covers many parts of Snohomish County, from the highly populated Puget Sound to the Cascade Mountains and has functioned non-stop since it was first commissioned in 2001.  Currently, due to the high daily volume listed earlier that is millions upon millions of calls for help that have been answered.

 

SERS is the system is supports the 9-1-1 system. The system was built to be in places where First Responders need to go and is not subject to outside demands that are not public safety related.  But, the SERS system needs help. While it has performed reliably for many years, the technology it uses is old. The system was designed at the turn of the century, and simply is at its end of useful life.

 

The Snohomish County Council, calling the aging 911 radio system the most important public safety issue facing Snohomish County, the County Council members voted unanimously to place a request on the November ballot for an additional 1/10th of 1% in sales tax to fund upgrades. Or simply put 10 cents on $100 of taxable items. A majority of voters must agree for this funding to occur.