The Scottsbluff City Council approved ballot language for two propositions that will appear on the general election ballot.
Last month, they tabled the measure due to confusing language regarding its sales & use and economic development taxes. This week, Economic Development Director Sharaya Toof explained that the language has been tightened up to truly clarify what voters will be deciding.
” We had the city attorney present just to kind of go over all of that language line by line and make sure that it followed all of the state statutes and everything that you needed to,” said Toof. “We made sure to add the word ‘renew’ for Proposition one and two, to make that very clear that this is not a new tax, that it is something that we have had before.”
Toof also noted that both Twin Cities Development and the Scottsbluff/ Gering Chamber of Commerce have communicated that they’re on board to help streamline the importance of Propositions one and two to voters leading up to the November election.
The two measures will be on Scottsbluff ballots as read:
Proposition No. 1:
Shall the City Council of the City of Scottsbluff, Nebraska renew and continue to
impose a Sales and Use Tax in the amount of 1.5% upon the same transactions
within the City on which the State of Nebraska is authorized to impose a tax,
subject to the terms and conditions of the Proposition as set out below?
Yes (For continuing the Sales and Use Tax)
No (Against continuing the Sales and Use Tax)
Terms and Conditions:
Economic Development Portion: If Proposition No. 2 passes, a portion of
the City Sales and Use Tax equal to ¼ of one percent (1/6 of the total City Sales
and Use Tax) shall be allocated to the Economic Development Program as
provided for in the Plan set out in Proposition No. 2.
Proposition No. 2
Shall the City of Scottsbluff, Nebraska renew, continue, and amend its existing
Economic Development Program as described below by appropriating annually
from local sources of revenue approximately $1,350,000 per fiscal year, until
October 1, 2035, unless extended by a vote of the electorate prior to that date?
Yes (For continuing the Program)
No (Against continuing the Program)
