Ballot initiative could keep 911 dispatch in Perry County

PERRYVILLE, Mo. (KBSI) – Perry County Sheriff Jason Klaus said outsourcing dispatch to St. Francois County could present some concern.

“This is extremely emotional,” he said. “It’s emotional for not only our dispatchers that jobs are on the line, but also our citizens, they’re concerned about who’s going to take their call.” 

If a ballot initiative passes, there would be a half-cent sales tax increase to keep the dispatch center in Perryville, which Klaus said could work in the short-term. 

“We in Perry County can, I believe confidently, put together a dispatch currently with our dispatchers and provide dispatch services for the short-term,” he said.

But in say, five or six years, Klaus said “the technology cost, the personnel cost, will be more than what that tax will bring in, and with the regionalization going on with dispatch that we see not only in Missouri but throughout the country, I think this decision will have to be made in and around that time, if not before.”

And Presiding Commissioner Mike Sauer said the move to outsource dispatch was part of his job of looking after the taxpayer. 

“I’m charged with the job of trying to figure out how to save taxpayers’ dollars,” Sauer said. “It’s my due diligence to look at that and present it to everybody and say ‘hey, we can save money, this is what we want to do.’” 

Klaus is confident either way, whether the tax passes or not, that the county is in good hands. He also said his staff will have new opportunities elsewhere, such as at the new justice center.