The Catskill Chronicle

 SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (November 25, 2011) – Sheriff Mike Schiff is asking Sullivan County residents to check their cell phone bills to make sure that the state mandated 911 surcharge and sales tax is being properly credited to Sullivan County.

“Many of our residents travel to Middletown or Pennsylvania to purchase their cell phones. When the accounts are set up they do not always accurately reflect that the subscriber lives in Sullivan County,” said the Sheriff.

In some cases citizens may have moved into Sullivan County and the cell phone company didn’t pick up on the change of address. This means that the county sales tax and money that should be going to the 911 Emergency Communications Center could in fact be going to another location.

“Proper funding of your 911 Center keeps you and your family safe”, said Schiff.

The Sheriff urged all cell phone users to take a moment to look at their bill. ”If the 911 surcharge and sales tax does not say Sullivan County, please contact your cell phone provider immediately and have them correct the error. In these tough economic times, public safety needs to receive every dollar it is entitled to,” said Schiff.