IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE SINGLE-SYSTEM ALTERNATIVE (ONE COUNTYWIDE 911 SYSTEM WITH ONE ANSWERING POINT) BE IMPLEMENTED IF THE STATE DOES NOT SUBSIDIZE ALL OR MOST OF THE NECESSARY COSTS. IF THE STATE DOES SUBSIDIZE MOST OF THE COSTS, THE EIGHT-SYSTEM ALTERNATIVE (EIGHT 911 SYSTEMS WITH EIGHT ANSWERING POINTS SERVING THE COUNTY) IS FAVORED. TANDEM TRUNKING OF INCOMING 911 LINES IS ALSO SUGGESTED ALONG WITH PROVIDING THE OPERATOR THE CAPABILITIES TO FORCIBLY DISCONNECT A CALLER OR TO DETERMINE WHETHER A CALLING PARTY HUNG UP BEFORE HIS CALL WAS ANSWERED OR WHETHER HE IS ON THE LINE BUT IS UNABLE TO SPEAK (IDLE TRUNK TONE). THE ESTIMATED COST (TELEPHONE SYSTEM, ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL, AND ANTI-RECORDING EQUIPMENT) OF EACH OF THE TWO RECOMMENDED ALTERNATIVES WAS CALCULATED: FOR THE SINGLE-SYSTEM ALTERNATIVE AS $12,700 INITIAL COST AND $22,000 MONTHLY COST AND FOR THE EIGHT-SYSTEM ALTERNATIVE AS $58,000 INITIAL COST AND $23,000 MONTHLY COST. IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED THAT A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE BE USED TO FUND 911 IN THE ABSENCE OF STATE SUBSIDIES, THAT THE 911 SYSTEM BE MANAGED BY AN EXISTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION, AND THAT THE FEASIBILITY OF USING THE COUNTY'S COMPUTER FOR GEOINDEXING PURPOSES BE FURTHER INVESTIGATED. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE SONOMA COUNTY TELEPHONE STATISTICS, A DISCUSSION OF GEOINDEXING SYSTEMS, AND INFORMATION ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES SERVING SONOMA COUNTY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...ELW