Voters in Kearney approved a Good Life District during Tuesday’s primary election, according to unofficial results of the election released by the Buffalo County Election Commission.
allowing for state sales taxes to help with development costs and other investments along Interstate 80 in Kearney.
With all 28 precincts reporting and 3,283 votes cast so far in the issue, over 70% of voters (2,525 votes) voted for the Good Life District, with 758 voting against. Voter turnout in Buffalo County was 16.25%, and provisional ballots have yet to be counted.
The westernmost of the Good Life Districts, the district will allow for half of the state’s sales taxes in the district to go back to the city of Kearney for 30 years to reimburse project costs and road improvements in the area. There are no changes to the state or local tax rates.
Kearney’s good life district is 200 acres of South Kearney between Yanney Street and 2nd Avenue, between Interstate 80 and Turkey Creek. Some improvements that have already been made in the good life district are the Kearney SportsPlex and the DropZone driving range.
Other Good Life Districts in the state are located in Omaha, Gretna, Bellevue, and Grand Island.
There was no statement made by Kearney Mayor Jonathan Nikkila or the Good Life for Kearney Facebook page Tuesday night.
Kearney voters have previously approved the SportsPlex project in 2021 and Kearney Public Schools bonds in 2009 and 2013. Last September, Kearney and Buffalo County voters rejected a $72 million bond proposal for a law enforcement center.
