Beatrice 6 sales tax, TIF constitutional amendment pass final hurdles

The Legislature gave final approval to a bill granting Gage County the authority to create a sales tax to help pay a $28.1 million federal jury verdict to the so-called Beatrice 6 on Thursday.

Lawmakers approved a bill (LB472) by Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams that would allow Gage County to create a countywide one-half cent sales tax on a 43-6 vote, sending it to Gov. Pete Ricketts for his signature.

The measure, narrowly tailored to Gage County's circumstances, would allow the judgment and estimated $2 million in court fees to be paid off as many as two years earlier than if the county relied entirely upon property taxes.

Sen. John Lowe of Kearney introduced a motion to return the bill to the second round of consideration, saying he believed granting Gage County the ability to create a sales tax without a vote of the people set a bad precedent.

Read more: https://journalstar.com/legislature/beatrice-sales-tax-tif-constitutional-amendment-pass-final-hurdles/article_7dfa3e73-8b0c-5a7e-a83c-5b82e03d7368.html