I hate it when people don't know what they're talking about. P25, 800mHz, etc. will not solve their problem. The extenders are a good option, but clearly not the best. The best thing they could do is build out their current system with more sites. Also, all of the high speed "features" like the "caller ID" are available on conventional systems. They could upgrade what they have currently for far fewer dollars than starting over from scratch. Going to a trunked system also is not always a good thing especially being in a region prone for earthquakes and with a volcano or two nearby. If the big quake hits, the trunked system is going to go down. With conventional VHF, they may loose a site or two, but they system can keep working. With the mandated narrow-band coming up, there are more frequencies they could add to the system especially with everyone else vacating VHF. Besides, if a trunked system is what they are after, they do make VHF trunking systems, but again, you have to hope the computer stays up and running. Someone needs to inject a little common sense into the discussion before the tax payers and the emergency responders get screwed.
73,
Fred
K7FRK