ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) - Cement work on a proposed beef plant near Aberdeen could begin in May after Brown County voters overwhelmingly approved a measure that provides special tax status.

"Dirt work is done," said Dennis Hellwig, a Northern Beef Packers official. "Our next step is cement. That could start in May."

Voters last week approved the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district for Northern Beef, which plans to build a $40 million plant about a mile south of Aberdeen.

The firm will use $8.6 million in revenue from bonds issued by the county to pay for some of the infrastructure. Most of the company's increased property taxes will be used to pay off the bonds.

Aaron Johnson of Aberdeen, who opposed the TIF, said he'll now shift his fight to mainly environmental issues.

"I am going to pursue every legal avenue to tie this thing up for as long as I can, if not defeat it," he said.