HOLDREGE, Neb. (AP) — Holdrege voters will be asked to decide the fate of a half-cent city sales tax via mail-in ballot in late October.

Residents learned of the upcoming renewal vote at a Friday morning coffee event at the Phelps County Development Corp. office.

The local-option sales tax has been in place since 2003 and has generated money for economic development, including construction of a local YMCA. The current tax expires in 2017, and development corporation volunteers and others are hoping voters will renew the tax to continue economic development projects for another 15 years.

Supporters say renewal of the city sales tax would generate about $8.1 million between 2017 and 2032.