County receptive to State Fair help

Hall County supervisors seemed open to the idea of contributing keno money in the future to aid in the relocation of the Nebraska State Fair to Grand Island.

On Tuesday, they also directed Chief Deputy Hall County Attorney Michelle Oldham to research the county's ability to levy an occupation tax on businesses at the Highway 281/Interstate 80 interchange -- at the businesses' request.

Chuck Bosselman, president of Bosselman Inc. said he and Bill Marshall met recently and want to be a part of the State Fair project.

"We voluntarily want to go on record that we will let you tax us --  sales tax us, if you can implement a sales tax," Bosselman told the county board.

Bosselman's has a truck stop and travel center at the Highway 281/Interstate 80 interchange. Marshall has a motel business there.

County board Chairman Bud Jeffries said the county doesn't have the legal authority to implement a sales tax, but it does have the authority to levy occupation taxes, such as a food and beverage tax being considered by the City of Grand Island to help with the State Fair.

Oldham said the county can also implement a lodging tax on motels and hotels, but she believes the county has already maxed that out locally. She'll research the food and beverage tax, which requires a public vote, and get back to the board.

"I'm very encouraged that Mr. Bosselman came forward and spoke in support," said Don Dunn of the local State Fair committee. "We have a lot of money that goes up and down the interstate every day."

Dunn, who also chairs the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors,  said the overall budget to relocate the State Fair to Grand Island is $42 million. The local share of that is $8.5 million. It's not a legal commitment though, he said.

"We didn't commit anybody's checkbook," Dunn said.

If the Grand Island community doesn't want the fair, the fair simply won't come to Grand Island the money isn't raised.