Townhall Session This Wednesday Night, on "Beatrice Six" Sales Tax

BEATRICE – The Gage County Board plans to hold a special meeting Wednesday evening.   The seven p.m. townhall-style session is for the public to ask questions about the county instituting a half-cent local sales tax.

Revenue from the tax would be used to help pay the Beatrice Six federal court civil verdict judgment against the county.

Gage County is placing its property tax levy at the 50-cent cap, under state law, while the judgement is being paid.  The additional half-cent, officials say, could shorten the time it takes to pay off the more than $28 million judgment ordered by a jury to six people the State of Nebraska says were wrongfully convicted in a 1985 Beatrice murder and rape.

The seven, p.m. meeting follows the board’s regular session that will be held early in the day, on Wednesday.

The special meeting will include State Senator Myron Dorn, who proposed the legislation allowing counties that owe at least a $25 million federal judgment, to use sales tax revenue to help pay for it.  The legislature successfully overrode Governor Pete Ricketts’ veto of the bill.