RiverCom 911 will host two community meetings in the coming week to give people the opportunity to learn more about a ballot measure that proposes adding a 0.1 percent increase on sales tax in Chelan and Douglas counties. Money generated will be used to add radio towers to dead zones, update technology and renovate a new facility. The meetings are:

*6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 26 (that’s tonight!), at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 127 S. Mission St. in Wenatchee.

*6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2, at the Douglas County Transportation and Land Services Building, 140 19th St. NW in East Wenatchee.

RiverCom is the emergency dispatching center for both counties, serving more than 20 law enforcement, fire and ambulance agencies. RiverCom covers about 4,740 square miles and serves about 130,000 residents. Each year, it dispatches about 67,500 public-safety incidents. The agency is primarily funded by fees from local public-safety agencies and a previously voter-approved 0.1 percent sales tax approved in 2019. The agency is asking the public for an additional 0.1 percent, equal to 1 cent on a $10 purchase. The population RiverCom serves increases by up to 40 percent in summer and 30 percent in winter as visitors, tourists, and second-homeowners come to the region. With an increase in a sales tax, visitors also would be paying for the additional demand on the agency. All funds from the proposed sales tax would be placed in a dedicated account restricted to emergency communications systems and facilities. At the meetings, RiverCom will talk about how the money will be used and the challenges the agency is facing.

If you have questions about this ballot measure, attend a meeting! Or you can send your questions directly to Doug Jones, executive director of RIverCom, at doug.jones@rivercom911.org.