On Tuesday, Mayor Jean Stothert introduced the city budget for 2017 while noting her kept promise to get the city’s finances under control.
When she took office in 2013, the city’s deficit was approximately $13 million; today, there is no deficit. She said her administration has been able to accomplish this by “watching everybody’s pennies.”
Plans for 2017 are centered on what Stothert feels are residents’ biggest concerns: lower property taxes, better safety, and nicer streets.
The new budget calls for a 2% decrease in property taxes. This is the second year in a row Stothert has lowered property taxes.
In an effort to make Omaha safer, five additional police officers will be sworn into the department. In 2013, Omaha had 804 officers; this addition brings that number to 860. A fifth precinct could be part of a new three-year-plan, Stothert said.
The street resurfacing fund also increased by $2 million, putting it at a record high of $10.8 million.
For more details of the budget, the website is finance.cityofomaha.org.