It’s taking the city of Chadron’s LB-840 Committee a little longer than expected to prepare a ballot measure for a 15-year extension the half-cent economic development sales tax that expires next year.

City Manager Wayne Anderson says the committee met last Friday to work on the wording of the proposal, which must be exact because of the requirements of state law.

Anderson had hoped to give the package to the city council at its meeting Monday night for action in two weeks on the 18th, but says the 18th is now probably when the council will get it for review…with action two weeks after that.

Anderson is also backing off a bit from shooting for an April 9th election, saying the first Tuesday of May might be a better choice.

That’s partly because of the delay in completing the language, but also partly because April 9th would be less than a week before federal income taxes are due, and people might be a little emotional about any tax at that time…even one that’s already been in effect for 10 years.

Chadron’s LB-840 tax brings in about $400,000 a year. Currently, 75% of that goes for bond payments for the new hospital and most of the rest for community development and betterment projects.

The tentative proposal being finalized for a vote would put 80% of the total toward infrastructure development, primarily a planned $4-million dollar upgrade of the storm sewer system, with the rest still going for community development and betterment projects.