Tax increase to take effect July 1

The local sales tax increase voters approved in November becomes a pocketbook reality on July 1.

State Tax Commissioner Doug Ewald issued the announcement on Tuesday, confirming that Sidney's local sales and use tax will increase to two percent, with funds going toward city infrastructure improvements.

Sales tax receipts "are distributed to the communities where they were collected," Ewald explained in a prepared statement.

Half of the funds collected from this tax will go toward street repair and construction projects. Sidney plans to extend Toledo and improve the intersections of 13th and...