Lincoln voters share thoughts on sales tax on election day

The quarter cent would raise Lincoln’s sales tax rate from 7 percent to 7 and one-quarter percent.

It would bring in $13 million annually over the next six years, which is around an extra $31 every year for Lincoln residents to pay.

“To have a good community and to have all the benefits we need, sometimes we need to raise some money,” said Karen McWilliams, who voted in favor of the proposal.  “I don’t think that that’s too much money to raise and I think it’s a good idea.”

The bump in sales tax would go toward street rehabilitation, reconstruction and constructing new roads.

“About 50% of our neighborhood streets right now need complete reconstruction or complete rehabilitation,” Transportation and Utilities Director Miki Esposito said.  “What happens if we don’t infuse this kind of booster shot of funding into those streets then they just fall further and further into disrepair.”

According to the ballot, the extra quarter cent would improve existing streets in all quadrants of the city to enhance safety, streamline traffic flow or promote private sector investment.

The ballot did not clarify how much money went to each project, which some people did not like.

“They said some of the money has to be spent on other things — at least a minimum — and nowhere does it say a maximum of the amount of money that needs to be spent for road improvements,” said Dick Johnson, who voted against the proposal.

“I kind of felt both ways a little bit,” said Lori Eden, who also voted against it.  “I mean, I know that we’ve got to pay for those things we want and I do want good streets, but I just didn’t feel like that quarter-of-a-cent tax was what we needed right now.”

The quarter-cent sales tax will be implemented on October 1 and continue for six years.

All the mayoral candidates had a take on it.  Lamm is against the tax increase and Gaylor Baird is for it.