City approves tax exception bond for first responder upgrades

NORFOLK, Neb. -- First responders in Norfolk will be getting some upgrades. 

Monday saw the city of Norfolk pick up the issue of using public safety tax exception bonds to finance upgrades for its fire and police divisions.

Using the bonds the city would finance a new ambulance, upgrade police software, repair a leaking police roof, provide new cameras, and more.

Norfolk Police Division's Chief Don Miller said many of these requests have been needed for some time. 

"These are things we have talked about for years," Miller said. "These are things we have talked about because we have already talked about them, you have approved them in the budget process. Now we are just in the process of issuing the bonds to be a fund." 

While it seemed everyone could agree the upgrades were needed, it wasn't a united front for how it should be paid.

Resident Jim McKenzie felt money from the city budget should be redirected instead of taking up debt, which he claimed would be in the millions next year. 

"I don't have any object to the items themselves," McKenzie said. "I guess my concern is do we keep doing the same things the way we've been doing them? Because now we're at $64 million and maybe $81 million in debt next year. You can't keep doing this and keep building up your debt." 

The bond issuance would be a maximum of $1,270,000, and public safety tax exception bonds are normally used for these purchases.

Interest on the bond is expected, but the exact amount is unknown at this time.

Still, some members of the council expressed partial agreement with McKenzie.

Board members like Justin Webb said they could've done a better job allocating their budget funds, but that wouldn't solve their current issue. 

"So, I think when we set the budget we run into this stuff because of the way our budget process works," Webb said. "I think we should have more days, more time to digest the information. But that doesn't get the roof replaced on the police station today, that's what bothers me about it." 

The bond issuance was passed in a unanimous 6-0 vote on all three readings.