By Katie Knapp Schubert
Omaha, NE – Sarpy County officials say more than $11 million in upgrades are needed to the 911 system there.
Voters who live outside the city limits of Bellevue, Papillion, LaVista, and Gretna, and Springfield voters, will vote on a one-point-five percent sales tax in November. That sales tax, if approved, would generate up to three million dollars a year to upgrade the 911 system.
Sarpy County administrator Mark Wayne says some upgrades will happen right away. "That will only last for about four or five years. And then by 2016, we will have to make the full upgrade of that equipment, and that'll cost about six million dollars," Wayne says.
Wayne says they hope to install the equipment in Sarpy County's new Public Safety building. That's scheduled for completion in 2016 at 84th Street and Platteview Road.
The sales tax revenue can only be used for public safety improvements. Sarpy County's 911 system was last upgraded in 1994.