On Monday, March 9, 2026, Princeton City Council will vote on whether to hire a firm to study the city’s long-term 911 dispatch future, including the cost of continuing to use Collin County dispatch or building a local dispatch center in Princeton.
What’s on the Agenda
Council will consider Resolution 2026-03-09-R01 to accept a proposal from Federal Engineering, Inc. for a Public Services Dispatch Center Feasibility Study costing $79,260.
What a Dispatch Center Is
When someone calls 911, dispatch is the person and system that answers the call, determines what is happening, and sends the appropriate help.
That can include:
• police
• fire
• ambulances
Right now, Princeton’s dispatch services operate through an interlocal agreement with Collin County.
Why This Is Happening
According to the City, Princeton’s rapid population growth, service demands, and the way dispatch costs are allocated are pushing officials to examine whether a local dispatch center should be considered as part of plans for the new Public Safety Center.
What the $79,260 Study Would Evaluate
If approved, the study would analyze:
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The long-term cost of remaining in the current Collin County dispatch system
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How 911 calls currently flow for police, fire, and outsourced ambulance services
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The staffing and operational requirements for an on-site Princeton dispatch center
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Estimated costs for building and operating a local center, including the potential to scale services or share with nearby communities
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The facilities, software, and equipment required
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Whether Princeton could operate its own EMS division (ambulance service), including staffing and cost analysis
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Possible funding models for both startup and long-term operations
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A final feasibility report and presentation to City Council
How the Study Would Be Funded
According to the staff memo, the $79,260 cost would be funded using 2024 and 2025 Certificates of Obligation issued for the Public Safety Center.
Important Clarification
This vote does not create a dispatch center.
It is a vote to fund a study that determines:
• what it would take
• what it would cost
• what the best long-term option is
Related Agenda Item
Council will also consider an item modifying an existing contract to clarify Princeton’s financial responsibility for dispatch services under the Collin County Fire Service Agreement if the City ever withdraws from that agreement.
The Fire Chief’s memo states:
• this does not change services today
• this does not begin a withdrawal process
The purpose is simply to provide financial clarity if arrangements ever change in the future.
Why Residents Should Care
Dispatch affects:
• how quickly help is sent during emergencies
• how police, fire, and EMS coordinate responses
• how public safety costs are managed as the city grows
Princeton’s rapid growth means decisions about dispatch infrastructure today could shape emergency response for decades.