Lincoln City Council members propose $1.5 million in changes to mayor’s budget

The Capital City’s budget could see some changes after Lincoln City Council members submitted their budget amendments.

The 2026-28 biennial budget sits at nearly $317 million for the first fiscal year and around $334 million for the second. Public safety makes up the bulk of the tax-funded budget, with over 57% allocated in the first year and 58% in the second.

Proposed changes from council members total about $1.5 million.

Going through the list of proposed changes at a Monday pre-city council meeting, Councilman Tom Beckius proposed allocating $150,000 to improve security at the Lincoln Police Department’s Northeast station. Notably, the Northeast station houses the city and Lancaster county’s dispatch.

The security, specifically, is a gate around the building. Lincoln Police Chief Michon Morrow spoke at the discussion, noting that it has been a concern for some time.

“We have had security concerns in this location, including one of our telecommunicators who had his back window broken out,” Morrow said.

Councilman Brodey Weber requested six of the eight adjustments.

One of his requests asks for the city to appropriate general fund dollars for the Tax Credit Alliance of Nebraska program, which helps low-income families prepare for tax season. The program is run through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln within the Center on Children, Families, and the Law.

He suggested $82,500 go toward the program, which is offered as a match to philanthropic funds to achieve a local match of $165,000.

It isn’t something that has been on the budget in the past. At the discussion, Katharina Stokes, the program’s director, said the funding comes at a time when a private foundation pulled back on funding as it reviews all funding given to the University of Nebraska.

“This is, definitely right now, as we're in, it's a one-time funding. I think being able to assist TCAN and building relationships with other private funders can create opportunities for future funding down the road,” Weber said.

Weber told Nebraska Public Media News that the potential funding opportunity is a “common sense, fiscally responsible partnership that the city should be excited to do.”

Some council members, though, like Beckius, addressed concerns about allocating funds to a nonprofit.

“What I want to be mindful of is also not creating a situation where we have private funders that say, ‘Well, the city of Lincoln will pick up this, so we can discard. We don't need to pay attention any longer to help fund this program,’” Beckius said.

The largest chunk of money Weber proposes to move is $750,000 from the general fund to the Pool Maintenance and Repair Contingency Fund. Along with that, Weber requested $185,000 to be allocated for an aquatics facilities assessment.

This year, the parks department requested $210,000. It will be at $960,000 to help maintain and repair pools – two of which are 70 years old – if this budget amendment is approved.

“The conversations we've had is that this funding is available for those catastrophic, completely unexpected, large scale. repairs that… we know are in our future,” Director for Lincoln Parks and Recreation Maggie Stuckey-Ross said.

Councilman James Michael Bowers also had a pool-related adjustment. He wants to help reopen Meadowlane community pool by allocating $152,000 to bridge the funding gap.

Weber also requested $150,000 of Lincoln Transportation & Utilities Capital Improvement Program funding to conduct a study and establish a design to improve the sidewalk area and pedestrian crosswalk at the Adams Street bridge over Interstate 80. LTU would partner with Lincoln Parks and Recreation to create better connectivity for Lincolnites on both sides of the interstate and the neighborhood.

He also is asking for $75,000 for an Air Park subarea plan.

“I think whether you are a first-time visitor or you are moving to Lincoln because you're going to the university or because you got a job here, or if you're a lifelong resident like I am, we want to make sure that Lincoln is set up for success, and I think that that's what these policy proposals really look to to do,” Weber said.

The Council will vote on the proposed changes July 20 before a public hearing Aug. 3. It's scheduled to vote on adopting the budget Aug. 24.