Questions We've Heard from Residents

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This proposal is the result of years of planning, community input, and partnership. As Ashland has grown, residents have consistently identified recreation and wellness as priorities while our current pool and ball field facilities have continued to age and become increasingly difficult to maintain. Today, Ashland has a unique opportunity to leverage private donations, state funding, and local investment to create modern community spaces that will serve residents for generations to come.

The additional cost is 50 cents for every $100 spent on taxable purchases.

Here are a few examples:

$10 purchase: 5¢

$25 purchase: 12.5¢

$50 purchase: 25¢

$100 purchase: 50¢

$500 purchase: $2.50

Revenue from the half-cent sales tax will help fund the construction of the Ashland Wellness & Aquatic Center and improvements to the community's baseball facilities. These investments are designed to expand recreation opportunities, support youth sports, promote health and wellness, and enhance quality of life for residents.

Even if you don't personally use these facilities, the benefits extend throughout the community. Quality parks and recreation amenities create healthy opportunities for residents of every age, enhance quality of life, provide spaces for youth and families to connect, attract tournaments and community events that support local businesses, and help make Ashland an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. Like streets, libraries, and parks, these are community assets that benefit Ashland as a whole.

The proposed half-cent local sales tax is an additional 0.5% sales tax on most taxable goods and services purchased within the City of Ashland. That means an additional 50 cents on a $100 taxable purchase.

Unlike property taxes, a local sales tax is paid only when taxable purchases are made. Anyone who shops or dines in Ashland—including residents, visitors, commuters, and travelers—contributes when making eligible purchases.

The tax applies to most taxable retail purchases and restaurant meals. Certain items, including gasoline and many groceries, are exempt under Nebraska law.

The half-cent sales tax is temporary. It will be collected only as long as needed to repay the bonds that fund construction of the voter-approved projects. Once those bonds are paid off, the tax will end.

If approved, the City will issue bonds to finance construction of the voter-approved projects. Revenue from the half-cent sales tax will be used to repay those bonds over time. The sales tax revenue is legally restricted and may only be used for the projects approved by voters.

No. The proposed half-cent local sales tax is one part of the overall funding plan. The projects are also being funded through private donations, state funding, and other public and private partnerships. The local sales tax provides Ashland's share of the funding needed to make these community investments possible.

If approved, Ashland's total sales tax rate would be 7.5%, which is comparable to communities like Gretna, Fremont, and Norfolk