November 4, 2025 – Special Election by mail for City of Crete Continue Economic Development Program and Local Sales Tax

Notice of Special Election by Mail for City of Crete Continue Economic Development Program and Local Sales and Use Tax

The last day to register to vote to be eligible to vote in this Special Election is

Friday, October 17, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. for On-line or mail.

Friday, October 24, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. for IN PERSON registration.

Ballots will be mailed to all registered voters in the City of Crete between October 14, 2025, and October 24, 2025.

All ballots must be returned to the Clerk’s Office by Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 5 P.M. to be counted.

Registered voters wishing to vote in the special election who will be absent from their residence during that time, or who request the use of a ballot-marking device, may contact the County Election Office at Saline County Court House – County Clerk Office #208 – 204 S. High Street – P.O. Box 865 – Wilber, NE 68465 Phone: 402.821.2374

Notice is given that a special election will be held on Tuesday November 4, 2025.  Ballots will be mailed out to all eligible registered voters. The ballot will include for the electors of Crete for their approval or rejection, the following propositions:

Proposition No. 1:

      Shall the City Adopt and continue to apply the Economic Development Program as described below by appropriating annually from local sources of revenue approximately $550,000.00 per fiscal year during the time period for which the City Sales and Use Tax provided for in Proposition No. 2 is in existence if Proposition No. 2 passes:

      _____                          Yes                  (For continuing the Program)

      _____                          No                   (Against continuing the Program)

Description of the Economic Development Program: The Economic Development Program, as amended and approved by the City Council, is summarized as follows:

1. General Description of the Program: The goal of the Economic Development Program is to provide long range planning and funding to save existing job opportunities and secure future additional jobs for Crete’s residents and to recruit new professionals, businesses and industries to keep the community viable. The program additionally purposes to revitalize the community and encourage the development of affordable workforce housing. Activities included in the Economic Development Program are direct loans or grants to qualifying businesses for fixed assets or working capital or both, loan guarantees for qualifying businesses, grants for job training, real estate purchases and options, the costs of implementing the program, technical assistance, industrial recruitment activities and expenses for locating qualifying businesses into the area. Qualifying businesses include those which derive their principal source of income from (1) manufacturing, (2) conduct of research and development, (3) processing, storage, transport, or sale of goods or commodities in interstate commerce, (4) the sale of services in interstate commerce, (5) headquarters facilities relating to eligible activities, (6) telecommunications activities, (7) development, sale and support of technology, hardware and software for IT and telecommunications, (8) retail business, (9) Construction or rehabilitation of housing, (10) tourism-related activities, (11) production of films, (12) Early childhood care and education programs, or (13) any other business deemed to be qualifying businesses through future amendments to Nebraska law.
2. Duration of the Program: The Economic Development Program is currently in existence and shall be extended until October 1, 2041.
3. Years of Collection of Funds: Collection of funds for the Economic Development Program shall be on all taxable sales beginning on October 1, 2026 and shall end on September 30, 2041.
4. Source of Funds: The source for Economic Development Funds shall be the City Sales and Use Tax as provided for in Proposition No. 1. The City may issue bonds pursuant to the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act.
5. Total Amount to be Collected: The total amount to be collected is estimated to be $550,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and shall increase or decrease each year based upon sales and use tax revenues collected.
6. Bond Authorization:   The City may issue bonds pursuant to LB 840, when recommended by the Advisory Committee and determined appropriate by the Mayor and City Council, as needed from time to time to carry out the Economic Development Program provided the bonds are to be paid in full with funds allocated to the Program so as not to affect the general operating budget.

Proposition No. 2:

      Shall the City Council of the City of Crete continue to impose a Sales and Use Tax in the amount of an additional 0.5% upon the same transactions within the City on which the State of Nebraska is authorized to impose a tax, subject to the terms and conditions of the Proposition as set out below?

      _____                          Yes                  (For continuing the Sales and Use Tax)

      _____                          No                   (Against continuing the Sales and Use Tax)

            Terms and Conditions: The terms and conditions of Proposition No. 1 are as follows:

1. Economic Development Portion: If Proposition No. 1 passes, the City Sales and Use Tax shall be appropriated to the Economic Development Program as provided for in the Plan set out in Proposition No. 1. If Proposition No. 1 fails, the City’s 0.5% Sales and Use Tax shall terminate on October 1, 2026
2. Termination of Tax: The City Sales and Use Tax shall automatically terminate on September 30, 2041 unless the tax is extended by a vote of the electorate prior to that date.