Debate over quarter-cent sales tax intensifies before vote on April 9th

With the snow and ice now gone springtime has potholes in full bloom.

Hundreds of them have been reported across Lincoln and crews have been working to fill as many as they can, but Mayor Chris Beutler says it’s simply not enough.

“The longer we delay in repairing these streets the more expensive they become to repair,” Mayor Chris Beutler said.

A proposed quarter–cent sales tax will appear on the April 9th ballot aiming to fix the City’s crumbling roads.

If passed the measure would generate 13 million dollars annually over it’s six-year lifespan to repair and rebuild roads across the Lincoln.

Mayor Beutler, along with councilmen Roy Christensen and other proponents of the tax gathered Tuesday morning to make one final plea for people to pass the measure.

“I look at this as an investment. If people calculate how much it cost to get their cars re–aligned, the shock damage, for me it’s a safety issue and safety is worth a quarter cent sales tax,”  Greg Baker, a supporter of the quarter-cent sales tax, said.

Opponents of the quarter–cent sales tax say it focuses largely on rebuilding roads in or near downtown while leaving neighborhoods on the outskirts left with crumbling roads.

Jane Kinsey, a member of the Watchdogs of Lincoln Government, says the tax would be an added burden to struggling families.

“The sales tax also hurts the low income people the most and that’s not fair when Prosper Lincoln is trying to do something to build up and improve the lives of low–income people,” Kinsey said.

The tax is estimated to cost families an average of $31 more per year. Supporters say it’s a small price to pay for safer roads.

The quarter cent sales tax will only be appearing on the April 9th ballot.

Mayor Beutler said it was important to him to get the issue before voters before he left office and so repairs could being made as soon as possible.