McCook sales tax revenue up from last year

McCOOK, Neb. — The pandemic is not hurting city sales tax receipts for the City of McCook.

In his report to the McCook City Council on fourth quarter expenses at the McCook Chamber of Commerce, chamber director Dawson Brunswick noted that sale and use taxes were up from last year, with $207,080 in sales and use taxes in 2019 and $228,717 for 2020.

Dawson included that information in his report submitted to the council. At the regular council meeting Monday night, Brunswick said he’s “hearing good things” from local merchants this holiday season.

In September of this year, the council approved a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, with ACE funds appropriated from the city to the chamber for promotional activities. The city allocated $6,000 from ACE funds to the chamber.

ACE funds are not tax dollars but come from a percentage of revenue ACE Energy derives from member cities. The money is typically used for community betterment purposes. In the past, funds to the City of McCook were used in the renovation of the Norris Park Bandshell, for the McCook Skate Park and last year, the purchase of a portable ballistic barrier for the McCook Police Department.

Brunswick’s report for fourth quarter expenses for the McCook Chamber of Commerce included:

Heritage Days 2020: $1,117.60. The $382.40 of the $1,500 allocated for Heritage Days will be utilized in other approved events.

Christmas promotion, $1,500: Currently underway. Funds are being used to promote shopping local. The City of McCook and/or ACE revenue return funds are mentioned in all advertising efforts including the paper, radio, social media and the chamber’s digital signs at Norris and B Streets.

Relocation packet, $1,500: The chamber plans to use funds to develop and make available a relocation packet to assist local businesses and the community in attracting new residents to McCook. This project will begin following the chamber’s Christmas promotion.

Crazy Days 2021: $1,500: The chamber’s annual retail event will be July 8-10, 2021. Funds will be allocated to promote shopping local. The City of McCook and or ACE funds will be mentioned in all advertising.

ACE Promotion, 2021: The chamber is working with McCook City Councilman Gene Weeding, the city’s ACE board member, to put together a marketing campaign to encourage members of the community to choose ACE during the natural gas selection period.

Also at Monday night’s meeting, the council approved the use of ACE funds in the amount of $25,000 as part of a $250,000 local pledge for a Rural Workforce Housing grant.