Emergency officials in Bartholomew County say that they will be buying a new 911  system next year.

Earlier this week, the County Council approved a $6,000 contract with a consultant to advise the county on the best choices and to come up with numbers before the city and county prepare next year’s budgets.

Todd Noblitt, the 911 center director, said that the cost of a new system would be split 55-45 between the city of Columbus and the county under the interlocal agreement covering the operation of the center. He said that the consultant would be coming up with a worst-case budget number by July so that the county and city could work the numbers into their 2019 budget calculations this summer.

However, Noblitt said that there are some new developments expected to be available by the end of the year that could mean substantial savings for the county when it comes time to actually bid out and purchase the system.