Look to the future

Dear editor and McCook area residents,

Next Tuesday, Nov. 13, McCook voters will go to the polls and make choices that will provide important direction regarding McCook's economic future.

If you vote and choose yes on all three ballot issues, which I encourage you to do, it will be a decision that demands a continued financial commitment from shoppers spending their money in McCook.

On the surface, a decision to renew and expand the local option sales tax isn't the easiest choice to make. I'm sure if you think for a moment, you can come up with many other ways to spend your money in a more enjoyable way. However, if you spend some time to objectively study the issue and think about what might happen if you don't make the correct choices, it makes the decision to vote yes, yes, yes much easier.

This is a very complex issue with many things to think about. How do we address declining population and related problems such as inadequate property tax base, lower retail sales, retaining young adults, attracting new residents, creating well-paying jobs, supporting local businesses, stimulating entrepreneurship, fixing aging city infrastructure, occupying good vacant buildings, and dealing with empty abandoned buildings that appear to have outlived their useful life?

With the prospect of the current 1 percent local option sales tax coming to a sunset next year, the McCook City Council, McCook Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) board members, along with their staff and other community leaders have taken the initiative to address these problems. They have spent countless hours studying the issues from many angles trying to determine which approach would best address the challenges McCook is facing, and more importantly what might be coming in the foreseeable future. They are all tax-paying members of the community and are well aware of area citizens' concerns that our tax dollars be spent in the wisest and most effective manner. They realize our financial resources are limited and precious, and that we cannot afford to squander them.

After much consideration, discussion and debate, a plan designed to address these problems is being presented to the voters in the form of three ballot issues. All three ballot issues must pass for the plan to work as intended. This plan provides real property tax relief, funding for necessary improvements to community infrastructure, and provisions to enhance job growth and community qualities that will improve the desire to live and work in McCook. It also contains requirements that the decisions on spending be governed by the City Council and an appointed citizen review committee. This will insure the tax dollars are spent in a manner consistent with the plan that was approved by the voters.

This plan is not a new invention. While it includes many features unique to McCook, much of the plan proposed has been utilized and proven successful in many communities around the state for many years. Nearly every significant retail trade center in the state, including many surrounding McCook, have adopted similar strategies and taxing authority. The idea that shoppers will drive to neighboring communities to avoid additional sales tax is unfounded. Those neighboring communities have already adopted similar plans and are using them to improve their own communities.

I am concerned if we don't address the problems listed above in a smart and aggressive way, our economy could continue in a downward spiral. Recent statistical data from various sources seems to indicate just that, and the future will be an expanded version of the problems we have experienced.

In the interest of keeping this message brief, I have not addressed many other details about this proposal that would further support adoption of this plan. The city and MEDC have both publicized information about the proposal and answers to frequently asked questions. You may have seen some of this information around the community. If you have additional questions about any of the proposed ballot questions, I invite you to contact the city or MEDC staff to get an answer to your concern.

In closing, people looking for a place to live and work today choose communities that are addressing the issues we have talked about. I want the McCook area to possess the will and desire to be one of the best places to live and work in Nebraska, and take the action necessary to see it through. Our history, heritage, resources and proud people should not settle for anything less.

Dale Dueland

President,

McCook Economic Development Corp.