Mayor Borowski urges city council members to consider the economic impact a Menard's store would have in Decorah

Decorah Mayor Lorraine Borowski believes there are several reasons the Decorah City Council should carefully consider allowing Menard's to build a new store on Old Stage Road.

Borowski Monday night distributed financial figures to city council members which estimated local government would receive $272,123 in additional property tax payments the first year if a Menard's opens in Decorah.  The City of Decorah would receive $72,900 of that--enough to lower the city's property tax levy by 15 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

Additionally, says Borowski, the projected Menard's sales of $30 million would create $300,000 in additional local option sales tax receipts.

She also said the new store would create new jobs with benefits and would lead to increased food, gas and retail sales because of Menard's customers.

Several members of the Decorah City Council voiced their concerns, however.  Andy Carlson said he wonders where Menard's would find 100 to 150 new employees for their store and is concerned they might just poach employees from existing Decorah businesses.  Kirk Johnson said the higher sales tax receipts from Menard's would be offset in part by lower sales tax receipts from existing Decorah businesses.  Dan Bellrichard said the issue before the city council involves many other questions besides those raised by the mayor, concluding, "It's not about Menard's."