[NOV. 25, 2005]  wal-Mart has identified Lincoln as a place to build a new, larger store. They would build this facility on the adjacent property just west of where they are at now.

Wal-Mart approached the city of Lincoln with a development agreement. In the agreement they offer to:
1) Provide all the infrastructure to their own building site and for future development in the subdivision
2) Give 27-acres, with new infrastructure to it, for commercial development to the city of Lincoln

Considerations:
-Wal-Mart leases the property they are in now. They would end that lease after moving into the new store. That would allow, and it is likely that another business would move into their old location.
-According to state of Illinois figures, sales tax revenues from groceries are low, indicating that groceries are being purchased outside of Logan County.
-In the agreement Wal-Mart requests gradual reimbursement of $600,000 to be taken from new excess sales tax returns. The rebate is a small portion of the cost of the infrastructure that they would provide. The city normally provides infrastructure to a new site.

Concerns:
-Wal-Mart offers mostly lower waged, part-time jobs that don’t include benefits.
-Locally owned businesses often cannot compete with their low prices, thereby affecting sales and jobs in those businesses, possibly causing them to close.

Benefits:
-The number of jobs at Wal-Mart would increase.
-There would be more sales tax income from Wal-Mart after the $600,000 rebate is completed (estimated at 5-years)
-A Super Wal-Mart would attract more business from out-of-town and would pull more traffic in off of I-55.

It is well documented that other businesses follow the new Super Wal-Mart Centers. That would mean:
1) More jobs
2) An increase in city and county revenues from sales and property taxes.
 

Here's the poll.  Click in the circle that represents your opinion, please.

I think the Wal-Mart expansion would be good for Lincoln
 

I think the Wal-Mart expansion would be bad for Lincoln

Please check this box if this is true:

I currently buy some groceries out-of-town but would shop the Super-Walmart in Lincoln and thereby keep sales tax dollars in Logan County

One other thing... please only take this poll once. The results will be shared with city and county officials.

Thanks.