OREGON, Mo. - A majority of Holt County residents Tuesday approved a quarter-cent sales tax hike to fund improvements to the 911 emergency telephone network.

In final unofficial results from the special election, the measure passed by a margin of 503 to 350. Only 22 percent of the electorate cast ballots.

The approval increases the county's 911 tax by another quarter-cent rate to a half-cent. The Holt County Commission billed the tax as necessary to repair a system for the first time since its installation in 1996. Presiding Commissioner Mark Sitherwood said he was satisfied by the outcome.

"We plan to go forward on this" with a process most likely of assembling bid information sometime after the holidays, he said. "First and foremost, we'll be getting our console and our radio equipment up to snuff ... We've got some more research to do on this."

The county also intends to improve 911-related staff salaries. Mr. Sitherwood said additional pay should help attract personnel to help operate the emergency service.

"Salaries are an issue," said Sheriff Scott Wedlock. The new funding will also help with staff training and follow-up courses, he said.

"It will help to keep (qualified) people in the county," he added.

His department has already spent the past few months examining equipment replacement and other needs pertaining to 911 upgrades.

The tax increase will amount to an extra $80,000 in annual revenue. The 911 system will eventually be moved from the jail to an annex building now under construction on the Holt County Courthouse square. The building - which will house other county programs - could be ready for the start of occupancy within a month, according to Mr. Sitherwood.

Elsewhere in elections throughout the region:

Residents of the city of Maysville, Mo., approved $2 million in water and sewer bonds for major repairs to the current water plant, built in 1975. The final tally was 147 to 28. The approval includes construction of a 100,000-gallon water tower.

The Harrison County Water Supply District No. 2 will receive $6 million in waterworks enhancements after voters approved bonds by a count of 103 to 21.

The village of Turney, Mo., rejected a $1.5 million sewer construction and maintenance project that would have been funded through bonds. The village's vote was 28 to 44.

Ray Scherer can be reached at rscherer@npgco.com.