During Tuesday's Omaha City Council meeting Mayor Jean Stothert presented her 2019 proposed budget. The $400 million General Fund budget is a 3.5 percent increase. The city’s share of property taxes will stay the same.
“Any chance we get to lower the tax burden, we’ll do it,” said Mayor Stothert in a statement. “Budgets are about priorities and I really want to focus on public safety and roads. We are responding to what citizens tell us is most important.”
Highlights include:- Increasing the police force from 880 to 900.
- Opening a 5th police precinct by July 2019/$9.6m
- Boost 911 budget from $6 million to $6.7 million for additional dispatchers
- Increase street resurfacing budget from $11.8 million to $12.3 million
- Raise library budget by $2.4%
Projected revenue: - Sales tax expected to increase by 5% to $168 million (including $1 million from online purchases)
- Restaurant tax up 2.2% to $34 million
- Property tax revenue is up 4% to $165 million
Mayor Stothert also revealed highlights on a Capital Improvement Plan for the next six years, including $50-million over 3 years for the development of Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America Park & Lewis and Clark Landing.
The plan also incudes $15-million for a new southwest Omaha library, $20-million to replace the downtown library, and $10-million to replace the fire stations at 25th & L and 80th & Dodge. Another $820,000 would be used to fix unimproved streets, $328-million would be spent on the reconstruction of 156th Street/Pepperwood to Corby, the 26th and Q bridge replacement & 108th Street from Q to Madison.
A public hearing will be held on the budget on July 31 at 6:30pm in the Legislative Chambers.