Butler County E911 is finding itself facing a significant financial hurdle as more people give up landline telephone service in favor of cellular phones.

Greenville Mayor Dexter McLendon, E911 chairperson, told county commissioners on Monday that E911 is losing an estimated $1,000 per month because people are giving up residential telephones.

And McLendon anticipates the problem getting worse.

“We’re holding on right now and it’s not easy,” said McLendon.

Residents and businesses pay a surcharge of $2 for E911 service. Cellular phone uses pay .70 cents.

McLendon said, like many state and local entities, E911 is seeing a rise in expenditures that corresponds with a decrease in revenue.

He said Greenville provides $100,000 in annual funding to E911, while the county contributes $40,000. He asked that commissioners consider increasing that amount prior to the beginning of the next fiscal year.