A project estimated to help drive billions of dollars in new spending, generate billions of dollars in tax revenue and create thousands of jobs in Sarpy County is underway.
The Sarpy County and Cities Wastewater Agency in April held a groundbreaking ceremony for a wastewater system that will solve a regional issue: the lack of a unified sanitary sewer system in southern Sarpy County.
The system has a projected 30-year impact of generating more than $37 billion in new spending and creating approximately 4,740 new jobs at businesses within the new developed area, according to an economic impact study by Hunden Strategic Partners.
Taxes generated over the 30-year period are estimated at $15.7 billion for the State of Nebraska from various sales, hotel and corporate income taxes, and $9.7 billion for local government entities from city sales tax and property taxes.
The six agency members leading the effort – Sarpy County and the cities of Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Gretna and Springfield – have worked together to create the Unified Southern Sarpy Wastewater System to guide and encourage future development.
In full, the system is expected to cost about $250 million and will be built in phases over several decades. User rates and connection fees will fund it. A $69.8 million zero-interest loan from the NDEE will pay for initial construction. The system is also using $3.4 million in federal infrastructure funding.
No property tax dollars will be used to pay for the system.
Check out more stories from the 2022 Sarpy County Annual Report.