In 1996, the state Legislature created an emergency fund to allow then-Gov. Ben Nelson to transfer $200,000 to Richardson County to pay back a loan the county took out to compensate public defenders who represented cult leader Michael Ryan and others in the 1985 murders at his compound near Rulo.

Legislators struck the language from state law after the payment was made, and nothing like it has happened since.

Even if senators were willing to set aside $28 million from the state's general fund to pay damages in the Beatrice case, Dix noted the two situations are entirely different.

Gage County was found liable for investigative practices that violated six people’s civil rights, while Richardson County needed help to keep from going broke by providing legal defense required by the U.S. Constitution.

“If this came to fruition and Gage County had to expend the funds, the only place they would have money would be whatever they have in any reserves, which isn’t going to be anywhere close to this number,” Dix said.

Taxable land and other property in Gage County was valued at around $3 billion in 2015, according to the Nebraska Department of Revenue. The county collected just over $9 million in taxes last year from its levy of 29.7 cents per $100 of valuation.