The proposed Good Life District, (Woodsonia Real Estate Inc., Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND – Grand Island voters have unofficially approved having a Good Life District economic development program for Grand Island.
Mail-in ballots were due at 5 p.m. Aug. 13.
Unofficial results released at 5:41 p.m. Aug. 13 by the Hall County Election Commissioner’s office show that 5,044 people voted for the issue, while 2,415 voted against it. There were 7,488 total votes cast. Voter turnout was 27 percent, Election Commissioner Tracy Overstreet said. The ballot issue was approved by a 2,629 vote margin.
Overstreet wrote in the 5:41 p.m. Aug. 13 email that no further counting will occur Aug. 13. There are fewer than 10 ballots outstanding.
The Hall County Canvassing Board is scheduled to meet at 10 a.m. Aug. 21 to review the results of the election.
With the formation of the Good Life District, the Nebraska Department of Revenue will reduce the state sales tax rate within the Good Life District from 5.5 percent to 2.75 percent. The state sales tax reduction will go into effect on Oct. 1.
The Good Life District is approximately 875 acres in northwest Grand Island, generally including the properties bordering Highway 281 from 13th Street to West Capital Avenue, and the undeveloped area northeast of North Webb Road and West Capital Avenue, extending to and including the existing Veterans Athletic Complex. The Good Life District does not include the former Nebraska Veterans Home property.
Grow Grand Island sponsored a July 31 information meeting about the proposal. Grow Grand Island Chairperson Tonja Brown said she sees the Good Life District as a quality of life issue and a way to attract young families to Grand Island. She said the Good Life District will generate more tourism, which will result in more tax revenue.
The Department of Revenue has told the city that 2023 net taxable sales within the approved Good Life District was $286,737,879. Based on that information, if the Good Life District existed in 2023, the city could have recaptured 2.75 percent or $7,885,292 from existing retail sales in the recently approved boundaries. A Good Life District exists for 30 years.
According to the website goodlifegi.org, the area will include projects such as a large indoor sports complex, a multi-sport all-turf outdoor complex, a commercial/business park, single family homes, multifamily housing units, and enhancements to Eagle Scout Lake.
Woodsonia Real Estate of Elkhorn applied to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development concerning a Good Life District. Woodsonia’s application was formally approved by the Department of Economic Development on June 5. In June, Grand Island’s City Council approved having a special election establishing a local Good Life District economic development program.
