GALLIPOLIS — Gallia County Commissioners made it official Thursday: continuation of the one-quarter of 1 percent addition on the county sales tax to fund operations of thr 911 emeregncy communications system will be on the Nov. 3 local ballot.

Commissioners approved a resolution placing the levy before voters during their regular weekly meeting, and at the close of a required public hearing dealing with the sales tax question. The first hearing was held Aug. 6.

Every five years since its initial approval in 1994, the quarter-percent on the sales tax to fund 911 is up for renewal.

Renewal means that for every dollar spent locally, 911 gets one-fourth of a cent in sales tax. That in turn provides for 11 full-time dispatchers and six part-time dispatchers who handle emergency calls for Gallipolis City Police, the Gallia County Sheriff’s Department, EMS, all village and township fire departments and the Gallia County Animal Shelter.

Following the resolution’s approval, the action was filed with the Gallia County Board of Elections. The deadline for fall ballot items, as well as filing for such local officers as school board, village council and township trustee posts is Thursday, Aug. 20 at 4 p.m. at the elections board.

Officials stress that the quarter-percent on the sales tax does not affect property taxes, only purchases made within Gallia County. Residents will continue to pay the 6.25 percent sales tax they have since 1995.

911 Director Steve Wilson said that the agency receives no funding from the county general fund, and aside from a small amount of wireless funding, 911 is dependent on continuation of the existing levy.