Special Meeting Set to Examine Economic Development Plan

Sidney’s City Council will hold a special meeting Monday morning to examine a potential revision to the city’s economic development plan. If okayed by council, the revised plan would be sent to voters for approval.

The city is currently operating under the economic development plan that was overwhelmingly approved by voters in the November 2016 election. That gave the city authority to continue setting aside $300,000 of a previously approved special use tax, specifically to be used for economic development.

The question that could be put before voters again would approve the annual $300,000 set-aside, but adds provisions for the plan to be able to used other, outside funding for its economic development efforts. As with previous measures, the city’s Economic Development Director, Melissa Norgard, said there are no new tax requests.

Norgard said the only change to the plan previously approved by voters is the language after that granting the amount of $300,000 ear year for 10 years.

The addition says “as well as any grants, donations, or state and federal funds received by the city subject to any restrictions or the grantor, donor, or state and federal law.”

That added verbage allows the city to seek and use funds from other sources specifically for economic development.

Norgard said the economic development plan has proven successful, enough so that the city wants to be able to find additional funding should it be needed in the future.

“We want to make sure we have enough funding to help potential businesses when they need it,” Norgard said.

Council’s special meeting will be Monday, June 25 at 7:30 a.m. in the council chambers at city hall.