Updated 11/7/19

The Tennessee Emergency Communications Board could pull more than $200,000 from the Emergency Communications District of Lawrence County if the city of Lawrenceburg chooses to reduce its own funding for 911 services.

The board sent a letter to the Lawrenceburg Mayor and Lawrence County Executive last month warning of the cuts.

“It’s one call, one service,” said Lawrenceburg Mayor Blake Lay.

More than 20 years ago Lawrence County and Lawrenceburg merged emergency communications, splitting costs 50/50, then the state matched that amount.

“There are more phone calls dispatched for the city than the county,” said Lawrence County Executive T.R. Williams.

What worked then is now costing the city even more per person.

The city currently pays $240,000 and the county pays the same amount. Lay said that deal leaves city residents paying the same price tag twice.

Both officials said the city and county are working on a new deal that looks more like a fee similar to garbage and water.