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Time for some potpourri

By Staff | Dec 31, 2009

Seventeen years ago Rugby voters made a wise decision when it approved establishing a city sales tax.

To date, over $3 million has been collected which has been instrumental in funding economic development endeavors in the city and area as well as providing set aside funds for infrastructure projects in Rugby.

The 2009 Rugby city sales tax collection reached an all-time high of just over $295,000 (See: Sales tax collections up – again, Dec. 26 issue) and it’s likely that figure will keep rising in the coming years.

Several communities across the state have established a local sales tax through a Home Rule Charter. It’s an effective way to generate revenue and enable the city to fund much-needed programs and projects.

North Dakota population up

The Census Bureau released the most recent population figures for North Dakota and once again the state experienced a small increase.

The population grew by just over 5,000 from July 2008 to July 2009, pushing the overall total to 646,844.

What’s also good news is the state actually gained population over the past decade. Certainly the oil boom played a large role in bringing people to the state. However, the state also witnessed job growth in other sectors including technology and healthcare.

Agriculture is, and always will be, the economic engine of North Dakota, but expansion of employment sectors is necessary for continued population gains.

No good deed goes unnoticed

Sometimes we need a reminder of why we live up here in the frozen north and that’s easy – the people.

And that was again proven last week when some Good Samaritans came to the aid of of elderly man caught in the elements (See: a helping hand, Page 1). Although the men involved didn’t want any fanfare, their swift action deserves attention, and proves that North Dakotans indeed come to the aid of their neighbors.