Would You Pay More Taxes for Better 911 Services?

RICHLAND, Wash. -- KEPR Action News is continuing to cover the costs of dialing 911 for people in Benton County. A hike might be coming to everyone in the county after lawmakers passed a new 911 tax increase this year. It's up to Benton County Commissioners to make the final call but it could mean an extra $2.40 a year, whether you have a cell phone, land line or use Voice over Internet Protocal (VoIP).

The tax hike will affect your safety

So we went straight to Benton County Emergency Services in Richland to find out if forgoing the tax hike will affect your safety. "I would say tomorrow, no, it would not affect people's safety. In the future, when it's an expectation for the 911 center here to be accepting the new technologies, that's when it could potentially affect people's safety," Jim Barber said, BCES Communications Manager for the Southeast Communications Center (SECOMM).