LEWIS CO., MO. -- The Lewis County 9-1-1 Center is asking voters for a sales tax increase on the upcoming ballot.

We talked with 9-1-1 Director Gretchen Keith. She says last year revenues were down $40 thousand and so far, things don't look good for this year either.

That comes at a tough time, as costs to operate the 9-1-1 center continue to rise due to increases in utility and healthcare costs. Lewis County has also had to make costly upgrades.

Keith says with decreasing revenues, the 9-1-1 center can't absorb the rising costs and needs help from tax payers.

That's why the 9-1-1 service is asking for a three eighths of one percent sales tax increase, which would bring the tax level to a penny on the dollar.

What happens if the tax increase doesn't pass?

Keith said, "If it doesn't pass, my board will have to make some decisions they don't want to make. They may have to cut benefits or employees. It could be that when people call 911 would experience delays in response times due to the possibility that dispatchers were busier than normal."

The proposed increase will appear on the April 6th ballot.