In Tuesday's poll, Audrain County voters will decide whether or not to approve a half cent sales tax increase. It would bring the sales tax in the county up to 8.1 percent. However, businesses say the increase stings.

Customers choose a little pain when they visit Sinful Skin, a tattoo and piercing parlor. But Sinful Skin employee Ryan Whitaker said a higher sales tax could hurt even more.

"It could potentially drag down our client base because there will be more taxes being paid out than people are getting so they will essentially not be able to spend as much down on themselves than they will on anyone else," explained Whitaker.

Whitaker says rising gas costs already cut into his business, and the tax increase would only make it worse.

"I had a customer come in and say, 'I just spent all my money at the gas pump so now I can't get it,'" said Whitaker.

County officials said that despite the complaints, the higher sales tax is necessary and will bring in almost $1.2 million. The money will be used for needs the county has not been able to get due to a lack of funding.

"New equipment, or updates, for new cars for the jail, keeping updated on our computers and technology at the courthouse. As you know, all that stuff falls by the wayside after two or three years and so forth," explained Richard Weber, Audrain County Commissioner.

A 19-year-old tax used to repair bridges will expire in September of next year. When that expires, the Audrain County sales tax will return to 7.6 percent like it is now.