Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert will get her 2021 city budget as originally proposed.
On Tuesday, the Omaha City Council failed to override Stothert's veto of budget amendments proposed last month. The proposed amendments would have taken nearly $2 million out of the city's “rainy day” fund and put the money towards mental health and social services.
The council needed five votes to override the veto but only four votes were in favor. Stothert said she would veto the amendments as it would be “reckless” and “irresponsible” to take monies from the contingency fund during current economic uncertainty due to the ongoing pandemic.
The city budget for 2021 was passed Tuesday as is without the proposed amendments.