Posted: Oct 03, 2011 7:44 AM PDT Updated: Oct 03, 2011 7:44 AM PDT
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. -- Starting Monday morning, emergency calls for fire or ambulance services in San Benito County will be processed and dispatched from the Santa Cruz Regional 911 Center.
Officials are in the midst of transitioning 911 capabilities and responsibilities from San Benito County to Santa Cruz County as part of a merger agreement approved by Hollister and San Benito County earlier this year. Officials estimate it will save Hollister and San Benito County roughly $350,000 a year.
Scotty Douglas, general manager of the Santa Cruz Regional 911 Center, said Hollister Police and San Benito County Sheriff's Office emergency calls will still be handled in San Benito County temporarily.
Dispatchers will be working in both counties until all the 911 capabilities are in place in Santa Cruz County. Once everybody is under the same roof, the Santa Cruz 911 Center will gain seven employees from the San Benito County Communications Center.
The Santa Cruz Regional 911 Center recently slashed six unfunded positions due to budget cuts, and Douglas said both counties benefit from the combination of resources. He said the increased workload is comparable to answering calls for the Watsonville Police Department.
Douglas said the manpower and technology will ensure that there is no delay in service. He said people likely won't even notice a change, but added that if they did, it would be an improvement.
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