Assemblyman Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) has called for a state audit of California’s Next Generation 911 (NG911) project after the state abandoned the effort to upgrade its emergency communications system. The project, which cost more than $450 million funded by monthly 911 surcharges on customer phone bills, was halted due to delays, outages, and an unsuccessful rollout.
Hoover expressed his concerns about the failed project in interviews with local media. “We have nothing to show for it,” Hoover told ABC10. “We haven’t updated our antiquated 911 system.” In another interview with NBC Bay Area, he said, “We fundamentally believe that state bureaucracies need to be held accountable when they misuse taxpayer dollars, and this is one of the worst cases that we’ve seen in the last couple years. The goal of the audit is to ensure accountability, to figure out what went wrong, and make sure it never happens again.”
The proposed audit would examine several aspects of the NG911 project. It seeks a review by the State Auditor into issues during planning and implementation, how much surcharge money was spent on the failed rollout, and whether additional charges may be needed for a new system. The audit will proceed if approved by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.
Josh Hoover represents Assembly District 7, which includes Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and nearby communities. He was reelected to a second term in the California State Assembly for this district according to his official website. Hoover holds degrees from UCLA and USC and lives in Folsom with his wife and three children; one child is on the autism spectrum (source). His legislative work focuses on community advancement and education policy. He serves on committees such as the Assembly Select Committee on Serving Students with Disabilities (source), drawing from personal experience as a parent advocating for students with disabilities (source). In 2020, he was recognized as Folsom’s Young Professional of the Year for his advocacy efforts (source).
