Community ownership needed by EDC

[FEB. 3, 2000]  Lincoln, what do you want to be when you grow up?  That is the question that Mark Smith, the director of economic development for Lincoln and Logan County, is trying to help answer.  Smith is trying to help the residents of Logan County get to where they want to be and to make everything in county the best that it can be. 

The mission of the Logan County Economic Development Council is to enhance the economic climate and quality of life in Logan County by mobilizing the talents and energies of business enterprises, local governments and institutions to work in partnership to achieve growth and prosperity for businesses and job creation for Logan County citizens.  The governing board consists of a nine-member council made up of officials from the city, county, chamber of commerce and members at large.

Smith’s innovation has included facilitating a number of focus groups inside and outside of the city of Lincoln to gather recommendations and comments from residents and businesses about their desires for their county.  As part of his presentation Smith asks,  “What is good about your town?  What is not so good? What do you think we should do?”   Three more questions that he asks are, “Where have we been?  Where are we now? And, where will we be in the future?”

He also listed the suggestions that he heard at least twice and he will use this list to help formulate an economic plan or a vision for Logan County.  Smith said, “I will find the best way to allocate the city’s time, treasures and talents.”  Smith is not creating the vision but clarifying it, based on the desires of the residents.  “My job is to help Lincoln get to where it wants to be,” he commented.

Some of the recommendations are as follows: the need for more higher paying jobs, the removal of tax caps, more parks and open spaces, another 18-hole golf course and better building maintenance.  Improving streets and alley ways, enhancing the appearance of several small communities, adding more housing options, and larger conference and meeting facilities, along with working to develop a public lake, are at the top of the list.

Smith continued,  “I want all of the entities in the county--residents, the chamber of commerce, school districts, churches, businesses, industry and others--to take ownership in the future of Logan County.  But first they must identify what it is they want. The next step is to participate by asking, how can I help?  Any successful plan must be community owned.  It has to be a partnership.” 

He explained, “In the 1980s there were many negative changes in the economic landscape as a result of plant closures and job losses. We saw a lot of well-paying factory jobs leave our community.  Economic development is a long-term, day to day process that involves a lot of hard work.”

Marketing and promotion is a large part of his job, and Smith added, “Each time my telephone rings it increases the potential for success.  It may be a business that is looking for a town to relocate and maybe Lincoln will make their short list.”

[Kym Ammons-Scott]

’Tis the season to give
or…receive

[FEB. 2, 2000]  With W-2s flooding people’s mailboxes and only two months until the April 15 deadline—the tax season is officially upon us.  According to one Lincoln accountant, more people than ever will be using electronic filing to get a refund fast. 

  "Internal Revenue is pushing to have more people file electronically so we're offering it free to everybody," said Clarence Barney of H & R Block. "We're trying to get 85 percent of returns filed that way."

   Barney said other changes in the state tax laws are few this year.

   "There's $100 more child credit (from $400 to $500) and the earned income credit is a little higher," he said.

   Dale Meier of Meier Accounting and Tax Service agreed.  "There are very few changes and the new ones are minor," he said.

   While this tax season has been virtually uneventful, both men agreed that February is their busiest month.

   "The W-2s started coming this week and my calendar is booked for a few weeks," Meier said.

   "The next three weeks are our busiest - the last week in January and the first three in February," said Barney. "You still get your procrastinators - some people don't get in a big hurry because they don't need the money."

   Another local accountant who is swamped this month is Mike Abbott of JM Abbott & Associates.

   "We get very busy in February because farmers are required to file March, and corporation taxes are due March 15,” he said.  “After that, you always have your individual procrastinators, but most clients are in by April."

   One thing you can take to the bank is that early filers are looking for a refund.

   "This time of the year 90 percent of the people get refunds and they want to get it fast,” Barney said.  The quickest way for people to get the refund is by filing electronically.  “You can get your refund in your bank account in two weeks,” Barney adds.

"Between now and the first of March, it's all refunds," Meier said. "After the first of March, 90 percent of the people have to pay. They're in no hurry so they just wait. There's some that will wait until April 15, but three-fourths of those will file an extension.  They just don't want to let go of their money."

   Abbott said his refund ratio is a little different.

   "Of our clients now, probably half get refunds and half have to pay," he said. "Our business clients and our farmers usually owe money."

   While people are eager to receive their money, many filers don't bring all the paperwork needed to complete their returns, Barney and Meier admitted.

   "Most people are well prepared," Barney said. "After you do their returns for a year, they know what they need to bring.”  But sometimes after discussing their taxes “problems they don't know they have” will originate.

   Meier had a slightly different story.

   In general, “very few people come in prepared,” he stated.  “The ones I've had for awhile know what to bring, but some new ones have to come in twice."

   Over the years, Abbott has found a solution for this problem.

   "We send our clients an organizer and give them a pre-appointment," he said. "It forces them to get their stuff together before them come in."

[Ellen Shawgo]

Census 2000 Awareness Campaign Hits the County

[FEB. 1, 2000]  Got Census? Logan County residents will receive US Census 2000 questionnaires in the mail in early March. But the Awareness Campaign is already underway to make residents aware of the purpose of the census and to inform them of how the results can help to enrich our community. Census results provide social and economic facts about people and housing that is used by the state and local governments to assist in future planning.

Reverend Glenn Shelton, Chairman of the Complete Count Committee for Logan County’s Census 2000 said, "We want every resident to complete the Census questionnaire in a timely and accurate manner. The Complete Count Committee’s (CCC) objective is to raise interest in Census 2000 throughout the community by implementing an awareness campaign that will reach every resident."

There are 9,847 household units in Logan County that must be counted to reach the 100% goal for the county. The county’s current population is 15,257, a decrease of 171 people since 1990. Shelton said, " In our last count according to the US Census, we missed 1, 632 residents which equated in a loss of over $4 million in federal and state funding over the last ten years. We do not want to make this mistake again." These missed residents during the 1990 Census meant that the county fell short of the census goal by 17%. According to Census Bureau information, every 500 households undercounted equates to a $218,500.00 loss in revenue to the community per year until the next census.

The CCC will implement its Awareness Campaign in three phases. The first one is already underway and will continue until the questionnaires are mailed out in mid-March. Local businesses are encouraged to place posters in their windows. Advertisements and inserts will be included in the local newspaper and in the utility and cable company mailings. Eighty-three percent of the households in the country will receive the short-form questionnaire that asks questions about six subjects and will take about 10 minutes to complete. The long form includes the 34 subjects and will take about 38 minutes to complete.

Shelton said, "After the questionnaires have been mailed, we will start our second phase and remind everyone to fill out the questionnaire and if there are questions, we will be happy to inform the Census Bureau and help answer any questions to ensure a timely response. Our third and final phase involves advising residents who have not mailed their questionnaires. An Enumerator will be visiting their household to assist them in completing the form. I am confident that with this committee’s commitment that the Lincoln Community will have a complete count for 2000 and we will receive our fair share of federal and state funding."

Census information determines the reapportionment of seats for the U.S. House of Representatives. It also decides where to draw federal, state and local legislative districts, school district boundaries and it assists in designing public safety strategies, locating factory sites and distribution centers, and setting community goals, used to attract new business to the state and local areas. The U.S. Constitution has mandated a national census every 10 years since 1790.

[Kym C. Ammons-Scott]