S.D. Watch has learned some additional details in Minnehaha County's attempt to shakedown the City of Sioux Falls to pay for 911 services through Metro Communications.

• High placed city officials appear willing to acquiesce to the County's demand for $90,000 to avoid cuts in maintenance and staffing, but for calendar year 2006 only.  (As if the City is rolling in dough!)
  
• High placed city officials believe that if the County wishes for the City to increase its contribution from 75% to 80% of uncovered equipment and personnel costs, then the City might seriously consider who should actually operate Metro communication.  The implication is that if the City is going to pay more, perhaps it should run Metro.
• The 911 surcharge does not appear to be bringing in enough money to help fund the system adequately.
• There are concerns that 911 surcharge funds are going directly to Lincoln County for services that the City actually provides to the Sioux Falls portion of Lincoln County.

Expect this issue to be a topic of discussion and friction between the City and County over the next year.  S.D. Watch has learned that even some of the Republican members of the City Council (yes, I know they are supposedly "non-partisan" but it is largely a fig leaf distinction) were unhappy with their Republican brothers and sisters across town at the County Commission.