01:00 AM EST on Thursday, February 26, 2004

Wireless phone users will be asked to fork over even more money to the state under Governor Carcieri's budget proposal.

The governor wants to add a new monthly fee of 26 cents on all wireless telephone lines in the state. It will be in addition to the $1-a-month 911 surcharge now in place.

The governor says the extra money will be used to improve the 911 system. He has proposed spending the $1.65 million the new fee would generate on establishing a temporary back-up 911 center in case of a system failure, fire or terrorist attack. Some money would go toward a GIS -- or geographic information system -- database that will make it possible for 911 operators to locate wireless callers in more communities.

The 911 surcharge would raise about $13.8 million in fiscal 2005 without the surcharge, and $15.5 million with the surcharge. That is almost three times the $5.5 million budgeted for 911 operations and improvements.

Most of the money collected in the name of 911 doesn't go to 911 at all and has already been earmarked for other state expenses. The money could be used for a host of expenses including aid to local schools, funding for mental retardation hospitals, the state police and other public safety agencies.

-- TIMOTHY C. BARMANN