Starke County May Soon Switch Cell Phone Providers

Starke County employees may soon undergo a change in their cell phone provider, as the county commissioners this week reviewed their contract with AT&T in an effort to find ways to save money. IT Director Joe Short told the commissioners that while some employees’ phones are still under contract with their current provider, others can be switched over to Verizon on a cheaper contract.

Short said the cost of Verizon comes out to about $250 per month, while the AT&T contract is around $370 per month. Verizon, he said, would not require a contract, so he recommended the county switch providers for those who have no contract to Verizon, allowing them to give the service a “test run” to ensure it meets their needs before they break the contract with AT&T.

Short said it would cost roughly $373 to break their contract with AT&T, but since they’d save roughly $120 per month, it might be worth it in the end. County attorney Martin Lucas told the commissioners he would review the Verizon paperwork to ensure all is well and return at the next meeting with his opinion.