The increases are the first in 20 years and operators say they will offset rising costs, such as an increase in the minimum wage and office supplies.

“For the first time in three years, I can breathe,” said Wayne Grusling, who won a four-year contract to operate the Ste. Genevieve license office in 2016.

Grusling was the only bidder when he took on the job and said he would not have sought another contract next year without the increased fees, potentially forcing residents in the community to drive to Farmington, Perryville or Festus to get their licenses.

“There is a future now,” Grusling said.

Missouri has 177 license offices that process millions of transactions each year. With most of the costs fixed or rising, operators often only can manipulate their labor costs to make profits.

For people wanting their licenses, that can often mean long waiting times because the contractors don’t want to pay to hire additional workers.

In rural areas, where foot traffic is slower, contractors face the double-whammy of keeping employees on the payroll even though there are fewer customers.