By LuAnn Schindler
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Orchard LB840 modification to be on fall general election ballot
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September 1, 2022
LuAnn Schindler | SAM
Special meeting • Orchard Village Board of Trustees discuss a resolution to modify the village's LB840 plan in the upcoming November election, during an Aug. 24 meeting. Trustees approved the resolution, 4-0.
Orchard residents will determine if the village's current LB840 formula will be adjusted, following approval of a resolution, Aug. 24, by village board members.
Chairman Stephanie Cleveland addressed fellow trustees about reallocating the distribution of funds from the 1.5% sales tax on taxable sales within village limits.
The current plan allocates 50% for economic development, with the remaining half going into village coffers.
If voters approve the resolution, 25% would be earmarked for economic development, with the remaining 75% going into the village's general fund.
The plan, according to Cleveland, would help the village "meet immediate needs."
Trustee Curt Mitteis suggested funds could also be used for street repairs.
"I think streets could use a big boost on money spent to get our streets back to a usable situation," he said.
According to Cleveland, the street budget received almost $9,000 this year.
Mitteis said he has received compliments on village amenities, including the swimming pool and ball fields, "but everybody in town drives on the streets."
Trustee Glen Cheatum asked how funds can be used if they go into the general fund.
Conversations between Cleveland, the state auditor and village attorney Joe McNally confirmed that the change would "be the easier way to use it for the community center or streets if we want to," Cleveland said.
"We can make any decision we want. If you guys decide you don't want to put the full 25% in that fund, maybe you want to put 10% in that fund to ensure we have money coming in there," she said.
Mitteis said he didn't understand why trustees would want to designate how the funds would be used.
"I think a lot of it is to make sure people understood ...we've got a need and this is the reason we're doing it," Cleveland said. "The biggest thing is we have additional needs that have come up since we passed that."
According to Cleveland, when LB 840 talks began prior to its passage, economic development asked for 25% and the village offered 50%.
"To me, they (economic development) have good funding right now. They have more than $100,000 right now," she said.
Mitteis' motion to adopt the resolution passed.
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