UPDATE: City could put even more money toward roads, mayor says

UPDATE:

On Thursday, Mayor Chris Beutler announced that more money can go to city streets.

He said it’s possible because property valuation numbers are almost $950,000 higher than projected and he wants to set those aside for city streets in the biennial budget.

The mayor said even though the budget already includes $65 million a year for road work,

The city still faces an annual $33 million funding shortfall through 2040 and it’s important to continue looking for every possible way to maximize investments in streets.

"I’ve been going door to door recently and that is the message I frequently hear from our residents," Beutler said.  "And that’s what was confirmed by the Lincoln Citizens’ Transportation Coalition."

A month ago the mayor also said the city was able to add almost $3 million more to roads projects for the next two years because city health insurance rates came in lower than projected.

He’s not stopping there.  He said they’ll wait until next year to decide if the additional $950,000 will be an annual thing, depending on sales tax revenue projections.

"Which funds about 42 percent of our tax–funded budget," Beutler said.  "Our proposal is to set aside the funds until we know whether we are likely to meet our sales tax projections."

Beutler said if they don’t meet those projections, the funds will be used to prevent budget cuts.

Any biennium changes must be approved by the Lincoln City Council.

They are scheduled to vote on that this Monday.

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On Thursday, Mayor Chris Beutler said the city can spend a little more money on roads projects.

Beutler said it’s possible because property valuation numbers are almost $950,000 higher than projected.  He wants to set those aside for city streets in the biennial budget.

He said even though the budget already includes $65 million a year for road work for 2018-2020, there’s still a large gap in street funding and it’s important to continue looking for every possible way to maximize investments in streets.

"I’ve been going door to door recently and that is the message I frequently hear from our residents," Beutler said.  "And that’s what was confirmed by the Lincoln Citizens’ Transportation Coalition."

A month ago the mayor also said the city was able to add almost $3 million more to roads projects for the next two years because city health insurance rates came in lower than projected.

Any biennium changes must be approved by the Lincoln City Council.  They are scheduled to vote on that this Monday.