In 2007, the residents of Wakefield approved a 1% local sales tax by a 2 to 1 margin. This meant that eligible sales would be taxed at 6.5% vs. Nebraska’s state sales tax rate of 5.5%. The tax was implemented Oct. 1, 2007 and expired Oct. 1, 2022. The primary purpose of the tax was for economic development activities including funding for a new swimming pool.
Over the past decade, Wakefield has used the local option sales tax in our community for a variety of projects including city infrastructure and economic development. Without the sales tax revenue, the projects that were completed would have required an increase in property taxes or may have never been accomplished. Since 2007, over $2 million sales tax dollars have been reinvested in the community. Voter approval is required for these funds to continue beyond the year 2022. The Wakefield City Council will decide in August 2020 whether to place a local sales tax option on the November 2020 ballot, and all residents within the city limits are eligible to vote on the issue.
To learn more about the tax, how it has been used in the past, and how it can be used moving forward view the Investing in Wakefield and Looking Forward presentations.
For more information, questions or comments email wakefieldsalestax [at] gmail.com.