Voters will go to the polls in less than two months to elect a president, a new U.S. senator for Nebraska and, in the case of Antelope County voters, to decide two issues of importance locally.
The topic of conversation in some circles for the last month, in others quite a bit longer, is the new county jail/law enforcement center.
Earlier this month, the supervisors approved building the jail which is expected to cost nearly $7 million. But, now, as a result of action taken by the supervisors on Sept. 4, the issue of funding it will be left up to the voters of Antelope County.
When they go to the polls in November, they will be asked to vote either for or against a special tax to fund the building of the jail.
The language to appear on the ballot is as follows:
“The Board of Supervisors of the County of Antelope, Nebraska (the “County”) has approved the construction and equipping of a new County Jail and Law Enforcement Center and has determined to pay for the costs of such facility with the proceeds of general obligation bonds (the “Bonds”) to be issued by the County in an estimated amount of $6,900,000 with a maximum maturity date of 20 years, and with such interest rates and other terms and provisions as shall be determined by the County Board.
To pay the principal, any premium, and the interest on the Bonds, and other related costs, shall the County levy and collect annually a special tax upon all the taxable property in the County in rate and amount sufficient to pay the Bonds when due and payable? Such special tax shall be in addition to all other taxes to be collected by the County, may exceed the County’s constitutional and statutory tax levy limitations, and may not be levied and collected for more than 20 years.”
Electors are voting on the question of whether the County shall levy and collect the special tax in the manner and for the purposes described above. Electors are not voting on whether the County shall issue its general obligation bonds. If a majority of electors voting vote “FOR such tax”, the County Board shall issue the bonds, which shall be payable from the special tax. If a majority of electors voting vote “AGAINST such tax”, the County Board shall issue the bonds, which shall be payable from the County’s general fund tax levy, but such levy shall not exceed the County’s constitutional and statutory tax levy limitations.
The other issue to be placed on the ballot involved funding for the Antelope County Fair Board.
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