OSBORNE -- Osborne County voters approved a five-year extension to its 1-percent sales tax during Tuesday's primary.

The extension of the tax will fund doctor recruitment for the Osborne County Memorial Hospital.

"It's a big relief," said Kiley Floyd, hospital administrator. "I didn't know how it was going to go. There was some very vocal opposition from people in leadership positions in our county."

The sales tax originally was approved in 2005, and the hospital was able to hire a doctor and a physician's assistant. However, the doctor left in 2007, and there has been only one doctor practicing in Osborne since.

Voters approved the measure by a 788-254 vote.

"I'm very relieved we can continue to move forward with our recruiting efforts," Floyd said.