By now registered voters living within the three wards that compose the City of Superior should have received a large (10x15) envelope containing a ballot and instructions on how to voice their opinion in the special election called by the Superior City Council.
For longtime residents, this will be the fourth time they have been asked to either approve or reject a city sales tax and economic development plan.
The first time they went to the polls the voters approved the development plan but rejected the request to add a 1 percent city sales tax. In reality the split vote was a rejection of both for without revenue from the city sales tax, the economic development plan could not function.
Twice since then the voters have approved both a 1 percent sales tax and an economic development plan. But Nebraska law sets limits on both proposals. For the plans to continue, they must be renewed every 15 years. Thus this year’s special election.
The one percent city sales tax approved by the voters about 15 years ago is set to expire later this year. In fact, the expiration date is so close, city officials decided to hold a special election rather than wait and include the question on either this year’s May primary election or the November general election ballots.
Like in previous elections, voters will vote on two questions. The economic development plan is similar to what they have previously approved. If the voters approve, the sales tax will be renewed for 15 years and increased from the current 1 percent to 1.5 percent.
The current one percent sales tax has on average brought the city coffers about a quarter million dollars each year. The amount varies with local economic activity. For example, the year Aurora Cooperative built a new elevator, sales tax receipts approached the half million dollar mark.
In recent years the city property tax request has been near or at the maximum allowed by state law. Sales tax is not related to the property tax and has funded projects which could not have been funded with property taxes. The plan being presented to the voters does allow sales tax to fund some projects which could also qualify for property tax funding and thus it is labeled as a tax relief plan.
Current city policy provides a portion of the sales tax be set aside to fund equipment purchases for the city’s street, police, fire and ambulance departments.
The city has also used sales tax receipts to make up the grant match required for projects like the recently completed walkability study, the down improvement project completed in 2018, the housing project set to begin later this year and various nuisance abatement projects.
The economic development share of the sales tax has helped to fund the Lady Vestey Victorian Festival, the development of the Kottmeyer Business Park, the Superior East Project, a storefront renovation program, the utility deposit program, and a local business loan program.
To be counted, the ballots must be properly marked and returned to the Nuckolls County Clerk’s office prior to the courthouse closing on March 10. They may be taken to the courthouse or send via mail but the deadline is fixed and exceptions for late arrival can not be made.
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