Georgia’s Ballot Questions: Funding the Future of 911
For the third and final installment of our examination of Georgia’s proposed constitutional amendments, we’re looking at how Georgia pays for emergency 911 services and an effort to modernize the technology that connects people with help when they need it most.
Georgia voters will find the following question on their November ballot:
Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to dedicate certain existing revenues, including revenues reallocated by law, to a nonlapsing fund to be used exclusively for the expansion, maintenance, and operation of emergency 9-1-1 systems in this state?
Amendment 3 would authorize the General Assembly to establish the Georgia Next Generation 911 Fund, creating a dedicated source of funding for emergency communications. Money placed in the fund could only be used for 911 systems, and unspent funds would carry forward into subsequent fiscal years. Whenever the legislature wants to dedicate specific funding sources to a specific expenditure like this, a Constitutional Amendment is usually necessary.
The amendment itself would not create a new tax or increase existing fees.
Most of us don’t spend much time thinking about what happens when we call 911. We expect somebody to answer, figure out where we are, and send help. Preferably before whatever prompted the call gets any worse.
But much of America’s emergency communications infrastructure was developed when telephones were attached to walls. Today, most emergency calls come from cell phones, and technology offers capabilities that older systems simply weren’t designed to handle.
Next Generation 911 would modernize that infrastructure, allowing emergency centers to receive text messages, photographs, video, and more accurate location information. It would also improve the ability to transfer calls between emergency communications centers during outages or periods of unusually high demand.
Georgia began laying the groundwork for these improvements through legislation passed in 2025.
According to the House Study Committee on Funding for Next Generation 911, Georgia already collects approximately $250 million annually in 911 fees.
Most telephone subscribers pay $1.50 per month. Those fees cover approximately 55% of the operating costs of Georgia’s emergency communications centers, with local governments generally covering the balance.
The study committee, chaired by Representative Chuck Martin, recommended establishing a statewide funding structure that could better account for the different needs of Georgia’s communities.
That could be particularly beneficial for rural counties, where a relatively small number of telephone subscribers must support emergency communications services that operate around the clock.
A statewide approach could also make it easier to coordinate technology upgrades, improve interoperability between counties, and ensure that emergency communications systems remain dependable regardless of where someone lives.
Modernization won’t come cheaply. The committee received an estimate of $52.5 million over six years for the geographic information systems needed to support the transition. That’s only one component of the overall project.
A dedicated fund could provide the financial stability necessary to plan and implement improvements that extend well beyond a single budget year.
There are still decisions for the General Assembly to make because the amendment doesn’t establish how existing revenues would be allocated, what funding formula would be used, or how responsibilities would be divided between state and local governments. Those details would require future legislation.
Constitutionally dedicating revenue also reduces some future budget flexibility, although the amendment would limit expenditures to emergency communications purposes.
The proposal received overwhelming bipartisan support in the General Assembly, passing unanimously in both chambers on its final votes.
For the people answering emergency calls and the first responders depending on accurate information, reliable communications technology is essential. Giving those systems the resources to keep pace with technological advances is the objective behind Amendment 3.
Voters are being asked to authorize a funding mechanism that would help Georgia make those improvements, with the specific details left to the General Assembly.
And when somebody calls 911, getting help shouldn’t depend on whether they’re calling from downtown Atlanta or the middle of nowhere.
