>> $7.76.
REPORTER: FROM THE STORE FRONTS
IN BEATRICE --
>> IT'S REALLY SCARY ABOUT THE
STUFF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE
PAYING FOR, FOR THINGS FAR
BEFORE OUR TIME.
REPORTER: -- TO THE FIELDS OF
THIS SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA COUNTY
HANGS A POTIENTIALLY DEVASTATING
FINANCIAL CLOUD.
>> I'VE HEARD THAT TALK ABOUT
BANKRUPTCY FOR THE COUNTY, BUT I
HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT WOULD ALL
ENTAIL.
REPORTER: LAST JULY A FEDERAL
COURT AWARDED SIX PLAINTIFFS,
KNOWN AS THE BEATRICE 6, A $28.1
MILLION JUDGEMENT PLUS ATTORNYS
FEES.
THE SIX SPENT A COMBINED 75
YEARS IN PRISON FOR A 1985 RAPE
AND MURDER DNA EVIDENCE PROVED
THEY DIDN'T COMMIT.
THE JUDGMENT IS MORE 3 AND HALF
TIMES THE $8 MILLION THE COUNTY
COLLECTS IN TAXES ANNUALLY.
>> GAGE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE $28
MILLION SITTING AROUND.
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ABILITY TO
PAY.
REPORTER: THE COUNTY WILL HAVE
TO PAY THE JUDGEMENT IMMIDIATELY
UNLESS IT WINS AN APPEAL TO THE
8TH CIRCUIT COURT.
THE COUNTY HAS ALREADY HIRED
INSURANCE AND BANKRUPTCY
ATTORNEYS.
>> LITERALLY THERE IS NOT A
STONE THEY ARE NOT LOOKING AT.
REPORTER: THE COUNTY IS LIMITED
IN THE AMOUNT OF IT CAN RISE
THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES IN A YEAR
WITHOUT A VOTE OF ITS RESIDENTS.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL NIXED
BORROWING MONEY FROM THE STATE
WITHOUT A CHANGE IN STATE LAW.
AND IF GAGE COUNTY FILES FOR
BANKRUPTCY, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLY
THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO DO
SO.
>> THIS IS SORT OF AN
UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION.
REPORTER: LARRY DIX FROM THE
NEBRASKA ASSOCIATION OF COUNTY
OFFICIALS SAYS A NUMBER OF OTHER
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE CLOSELY
WATCHING WHAT HAPPENS.
HE SAYS BANKRUPTCY WOULD BE
DIFFICULT BECAUSE MUCH OF THE
DUTIES OF A COUNTY ARE MANDATED
BY STATE LAW.
>> THE COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE THE
OPTION TO JUST SHUT DOWN THOSE
SERVICES AND SAY WE'RE JUST
GOING TO TAX AND TAX AND TAX
YOU.
REPORTER THE COUNTY DOES HAVE
INSURANCE, BUT SINCE IT SWITCHED
CARRIERS AND MIGHT NOT HAVE
COVERAGE FOR A DECADES OLD COLD
CASE OR ENOUGH COVERAGE.
>> I DON'T KNOW OF ANY COUNTY
THAT IS INSURED TO COVER
SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED 30 YEARS
AGO.
REPORTER: THE THREAT OF THE
JUDGEMENT IS POSSIBLY AREADY
HAVING AN IMPACT.
LAST NOVEMBER A SCHOOL BOND
ISSUE WAS DEFEATED.
AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY THEY
DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE CAUSE
BUT WON'T BRING ANOTHER BOND
ISSUE AT THIS POINT.
>> HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO GROW
AND MOVE FORWARD ECONOMICALLY
WHEN YOU HAVE THIS HANGING OUT
THERE STILL NOT RESOLVE YET.
REPORTER IN BEATRICE, ANDREW
OZAKI, KETV NEWSWATCH 7.
ROB: THE ATTORNEY FOR THE
BEATRICE SIX TELLS US THERE'S AN
URGENCY FOR HIS CLIENTS TO BE
PAID, ONE OF THEM, JOSEPH WHITE,
ALREADY PASSED AWAY.
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