(KLZA)--In an effort to balance the Richardson County budget, and save county taxpayers money, County Commissioners  voted unanimously Tuesday to terminate an agreement with the City of Falls City for 911 service.

A written notice to terminate the agreement is required 30-days in advance. The agreement was first signed in February, 2012.

Since 2012, the Falls City Police Department has served as the Public Service Answering Point for 911 calls in  Richardson County.  

County Clerk Mary Eickhoff estimates the county has paid the city of Falls City nearly $860-thousand over seven years to provide the 911 service for Richardson  County.  The average cost to the county was in excess of $120-thousand annually.

 Eickhoff noted during the budget process that with a decrease in valuation, it would require cutting about three-quarters-of-a-million dollars from budget proposals submitted to keep the levy at the same level as last year.

The county will still owe the City for 911 dispatching for the months of July, August and September.  The payments are made quarterly.

Sheriff Don Pounds has expressed a desire to have the Richardson County Law Enforcement  Center serve as the PSAP since he was elected.