A proposed 200 Million bond by Mayor Jean Stothert could help with the revitalization of Omaha streets.
The Bond will be on the Upcoming May ballot and plans on restoring and maintaining Omaha streets.
She says this is the 1st wave of a fix to the problem. The bill would cost about “41 million annually over the next five years to restore”
Stothert states that the proposed bond would maintain the streets to be restored once every 20 years which is the “average lifetime of streets.”
The Omaha city streets have been on a decline for the past 50 years and the Mayor claims that it is up to her to fix it. Stothert says that fixing the streets of Omaha are something that “falls under her to fix” and every year she has put more and more money into the budget to fix this problem during her time as mayor.
The money to fix the prosed bill will come from an increased levee tax. When deciding on where to get the money she had considered raising sales tax but that would require a change in state law. The increase in levee tax will average out to around $35 dollars a year to someone who has a 100 thousand dollar home.
Stothert also stated in her city hall meeting that she has always been about keeping taxes low. “Keeping taxes low is important but matching Omaha’s potential is just as important.
She says that she could have voted on this bill in private but believes that is important for the people to decide. “ the people who pay the bill should be the ones to vote on the bill” she also believes that this is the start to of many
When asked concerns about other transportation issues such as Street cars and bicycle lanes she commented saying “This is the start if you will, you can’t put bike lanes on bumpy roads.”
- When does this start to take place.
- Which streets need the most work.
- Which part of town will this start and work its way to.
- Is there any up keep that will take place or how will we maintain this after the 5 years is up.
- Why are the streets something that you are tackling this heavy
Owen Rush 