By Katie Knapp Schubert
Omaha, NE – Douglas County Commissioners have approved a new budget that contains no tax increase.
Commissioners unanimously approved the $311 million dollar budget at Tuesday's meeting. Each county department was asked to cut four-percent from their respective budgets.
Commissioner P.J. Morgan says discussions should begin as soon as possible on next fiscal year's budget. "We really need to work together, need everyone's input to start to deal with next year knowing that there is not a way to even ask departments to take a two percent cut next year in many, many cases because of the salaries and other mandated increases."
Douglas County lost five million dollars because of legislation ending state aid to cities, counties, and natural resources districts. Some departments took a budget cut of significantly more than four percent.
The county's new fiscal year began July first.