The City of Bee Cave has approved an agreement that will transition police dispatch services from the City of Lakeway to the City of Marble Falls. This decision was made with public safety as the top priority. It will also save taxpayers money without increasing response times or impacting service quality.
Police dispatch costs for Bee Cave increased from approximately $285,000 in FY 2018 to almost $570,000 in FY 2025. Bee Cave staff met with the City of Lakeway to explore cost-reduction options and worked collaboratively to try to bring costs down. Lakeway ultimately proposed maintaining the FY 2025 cost level of approximately $595,000 annually. As part of its due diligence, the City of Bee Cave also consulted with other regional partners, including the City of Marble Falls, to compare costs and service models.
After six months of reviewing call volume data, operational capacity, and long-term cost controls, the Bee Cave City Council approved an interlocal agreement with Marble Falls that provides equivalent dispatch services at an annual cost of approximately $330,000, with a go-live date of October 1, 2026. While there are upfront transition costs, including administrative and technology expenses, the city will recover those costs within approximately two years. Over the life of the agreement, the savings are significant.
“If I believed this change would negatively impact response times or officer safety, the police department would not be moving forward with it. The reality is that advancements in technology have made the physical location of a dispatcher far less important. This transition saves money over the long term while maintaining the high level of service our community expects,” said Interim Bee Cave Police Chief William Pitmon.
As a member of the Capital Area Council of Governments, the City of Marble Falls operates a regional dispatch center using the same 911 equipment and technology relied upon across Central Texas. Nearly 90 percent of 911 calls originate from cell phones, allowing caller locations to be automatically provided through geo-validation tools, CAD mapping, and the regional 911 system. Technology ensures calls are answered and routed immediately regardless of dispatcher location.
The agreement also provides Bee Cave a seat at the table as a regional partner on the call center advisory board. This partnership approach helps ensure long-term cost stability and lowers the risk of similar cost escalation in the future.
There are no service issues with the City of Lakeway, and Bee Cave values its long-standing relationship. This decision was made solely to maintain strict fiscal responsibility and ensure the best use of taxpayer dollars while maintaining high-quality emergency services for the community.