Your Chamber This Week

March 11 - 15

YOUR CHAMBER THIS WEEK

Chamber Board Votes to Oppose EPIC Tax Plan

At its March 5 meeting, the Grand Island Chamber board voted unanimously to oppose the EPIC Option Consumption Tax, which would replace Nebraska’s income and property taxes with a high-rate consumption sales and excise tax. Experts say the EPIC tax rate would likely be at least 15% to 20%, and perhaps higher -- imposing an exorbitant sales tax rate on businesses, families, and employees.

Read more in reports from The Independent (subscription), KRGI, and Central Nebraska Today.

At a Glance: Nebraska's Sales Tax Competitiveness

Nebraska's state sales and use tax rate is currently 5.5%. According to this comparison by the Tax Foundation, Nebraska has the 28th highest sales tax burden among the 45 states that levy a state sales tax. By increasing the state sales tax rate by 1%, as proposed by Gov. Jim Pillen, Nebraska would move to ninth highest in the U.S. at 6.5%.

In addition to the state sales tax rate, Nebraska cities can impose a local sales tax of 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 1.75%, or 2%, as adopted by city or county governments. Here's a list of all local sales tax rates statewide.

Make Sure Your Labor Law Posters Are Visible

To ensure your business is in compliance with state law, the following posters are required to be visible to employees at your workplace. (Click the linked posters if you need to print them.)

Nebraska Minimum Wage (8.5" x 11" or 11" x 17")
Spanish Nebraska Minimum Wage (8.5" x 11" / 11" x 17")
Discrimination in Employment, Housing, Public Accommodations (English/Spanish)
Unemployment Insurance Advisement of Benefit Rights (English/Spanish)

To download federal posters and determine posting requirements, visit the U.S. Department of Labor website. Not all businesses have the same posting requirements.

New Independent Contractor Rule Takes Effect

Businesses will find it harder to classify workers as independent contractors due to changes imposed by the U.S. Department of Labor. Those changes take effect today, March 11. Experts say this rule change tilts the playing field against businesses.

Chamber partner Rembolt Ludtke has posted this on-demand webinar to spotlight a number of changes to federal regulations, including the independent contractor classification changes, and expected changes to the overtime exemption rule.

Wanted: Your Opinions on GI Chamber Services

The Grand Island Chamber is your organization, so your opinions are valuable to Chamber staff. Please take a couple minutes to complete this brief and anonymous survey. Deadline is 5 p.m., Friday, March 29.

Your input will help Chamber staff and volunteer leaders prioritize future activities and services.

SkillsUSA Nebraska VIP Tour

Learning Seminar: High Quality Conflict

Managers spend roughly 40% of their time involved in conflict in some form. Conflict is unavoidable. Whether professionally, at work, with a co-worker, or personally in your relationships, it is just part of being human. Fortunately, the skills we need to have high-quality conflict can be learned.

Join us on April 17 for an in-person seminar that will expand your knowledge on one of the most problematic issues in the workplace.

Presented by Lee Elliott.

2024 Annual Meeting

The Grand Island Chamber's 2024 Annual Meeting is this Wednesday, March 13 at Riverside Golf Club. The social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner and program at 6:15 p.m.

The Chamber looks forward to celebrating our award honorees. Thank you to our sponsors for their support in ensuring the success of one of the most popular networking events of the year.

2024 Annual Meeting Honorees: