Governor Pete Ricketts issued a statement after vetoing LB 492, a bill that would give new property tax authority to a new local unit of government called the “Regional Metropolitan Transit Authority” (RMTA). The entity would have new authority to levy up to $17 million in property taxes without a vote of the people.
“The bill allows the Omaha Transit Authority to convert itself into a new political subdivision that will have broader taxing authority,” said Governor Ricketts. “LB 492 amounts to an incredible $17 million property tax increase for all residents of Omaha and Douglas County because it moves the transit authority’s property tax levy authority outside of the city and county tax lids and authorizes the new authority to double its existing property tax levy amount.
“LB 492 exempts the newly created RMTA from all existing statutory limits on allowable tax asking and allows the possible extension of the property tax increase to Sarpy County. No other political subdivision in Nebraska is given this expansive property tax increase ability.”