Council to set tax request Monday

McCOOK, Neb. — The final step in the City of McCook budget process for the upcoming fiscal year is scheduled for Monday evening. City Council will consider approving a resolution setting the city’s property tax request $147,621 higher than prior year during a regularly scheduled meeting, 6:30 p.m., at the Municipal Center.

The current city valuation will generate $1,390,781 in property tax revenue during the upcoming 2017-18 fiscal year, according to background information on the agenda item. McCook’s property tax request for the 2016-17 fiscal year was approved at $1,243,160.

The city’s property tax levy will remain at the same $0.349044 in the coming fiscal year.

Other items on Monday’s regular and consent agenda:

* A report of sales tax receipts during the 2016-17 fiscal year will be received and filed. The report indicates the city received $27,630 more in sales tax revenue than they budgeted to receive during the 2016-17 fiscal year. The $2,427,630 in sales tax receipts was also a decrease of $38,622 when compared to prior year receipts.

* City staff is requesting approval to write off more than $13,923 in bad debt, coupled with $36,189 in accrued interest on the accounts.The bulk of the debt stems from special assessments which will be dismissed, and include some bankruptcies, deceased individuals, and changes in ownership, which have aged beyond the city’s legal collection limits, according to the agenda item.

* McCook Public Schools is requesting a police escort for a homecoming pep rally march to Norris Park on Oct. 11, 2017. The schools plan to have its band and students begin marching towards Norris Park on city streets at approximately 1 p.m., beginning at West 7th Street and heading down West F Street to West 1st Street to West G Street and on to Norris Park, according to the agenda item.

A bonfire is also planned on school property on Sunday, Oct. 8.

* A trio of advisory board and commission appointments from Mayor Mike Gonzales are scheduled for ratification. The appointments include reappointing Trevor Taylor and Griff Malleck to the Airport Advisory Commission through November of 2020, and reappointing Steven Keene to the City/County Airport Zoning Board through September of 2017.

* Proclamations designating October 2017 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” and Oct. 8-14 as “Fire Prevention Week” will be considered for approval.

* Bruce Lester with McCook Evangelical Free Church is scheduled to provide the invocation.

* Stanley’s Spirits, LLC, has requested a special liquor license for a wedding reception at the Red Willow County Community Building on Nov. 18, 2017.

* Hi-Times Liquor Mart is requesting a special liquor license for a wedding reception at the Red Willow County Community Building on Nov. 11, 2017.

* The McCook Economic Development Corp. is requesting a special liquor license for a for a “Blazing Pianos Event” at Memorial Auditorium on Oct. 22, 2017.