COUNTYWIDE FINANCING FOR THE SYSTEM'S RECURRING CHARGES INVOLVES PAYMENT OF THE 911 CHARGES BY THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WITHOUT REQUIRING PAYMENTS FROM OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTY. MAJOR FACTORS FOR AND AGAINST COUNTYWIDE FINANCING ARE DISCUSSED, SOME SOLUTIONS ARE OFFERED. FOUR ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR COUNTYWIDE FINANCING ARE PRESENTED (1) USING AVAILABLE REVENUES FROM THE GENERAL FUND WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE, (2) RAISING THE COUNTY'S PROPERTY TAX LEVY TO COVER THE COSTS, (3) USING FEDERAL REVENUE SHARING MONEY, OR (4) LEVYING A TELEPHONE SERVICE CHARGE. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES ARE PRESENTED FOR EACH ALTERNATIVE, AND IN THE CASE OF THE TELEPHONE SERVICE CHARGE, THE BACKGROUND AND CURRENT STATUS OF THE 911 CALIFORNIA SURCHARGE ARE DISCUSSED AND PROPOSED LEGISLATION REVIEWED. SOUTHWESTERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY PROCEDURES ARE SUMMARIZED, TO DETERMINE THE RECURRING CHARGES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF 911 OPERATION AND IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS. ALSO SUMMARIZED ARE THE ROLE OF THE MISSOURI PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IN THE CHARGE-FIXING PROCESS AND STEPS THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT MIGHT TAKE TO VERIFY OR QUESTION PROPOSED CHARGES. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--AOP)