Grand Island residents weigh in on Good Life District Economic Program days before voting deadline
Grand Island is getting ready for a special election that could determine the future of a 500-million-dollar development.
August 8, 2024Updated: August 8, 2024
By News Channel Nebraska
By News Channel NebraskaWatch video for interviews from locals.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb.- - Grand Island is getting ready for a special election that could determine the future of a 500-million-dollar development.
The city is holding a mail-in election regarding the Good Life District Economic Program. A section of the north side of the city, which includes the under-construction mall and an undeveloped area, is classified as a Good Life District by the state. That means the state sales tax for sales made in that area will be cut in half starting in October. The city wants to replace the state tax cut with an equal city tax to help pay for infrastructure costs in a proposed multipurpose development.
The issue is out to voters and ballots are due by the end of Tuesday. Ana Ruth Lugo Mejia went around Grand Island and asked residents what they think.
Some people we talked to were concerned that the program would raise property taxes, despite the fact that it only deals with sales tax.
Grow Grand Island has hosted open houses for the community to ask their questions and voice their concerns. Based on the mixed response from people we talked to, organizers still have outreach work to do before ballots are due on Tuesday.